THE NARRATIVE BIBLE 

Edited by Clifton Johnson 



FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 




The Tower of Babel 



THE 

NARRATIVE BIBLE 



Edited by 

CLIFTON JOHNSON 



Illustrated by 
GUSTAVE DORE 



New York 
THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY 

1910 



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^ x 



*'& 



Copyright 1910 by 
The Baker & Taylor Company 
Published October 1910 



PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES 
BY 

The F. A. Bassette Company 

OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 



©CI.A275390 



Contents 

I. The Beginning 1 

II. The Flood 7 

III. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ... 11 

IV. Joseph and His Brethren .... 36 
V. Job and His Friends ..... 57 

VI. Moses and the Plagues of Egypt . . 67 

VII. The Ten Commandments .... 89 

VIII. The Israelites in the Wilderness . . 104 

IX. God's People Enter the Promised Land 119 

X. The Judges 132 

XI. Ruth 149 

XII. Samuel and the First of the Kings . . 155 

XIII. King David 184 

XIV. Solomon the Wise 203 

XV. The Later Kings 210 

XVI. The Story of Jonah 241 

XVII. Daniel in Babylon 244 

XVIII. Queen Esther 256 

XIX. The Return from the Captivity . . 267 

XX. The Life of Jesus 270 

XXI. The Acts of the Apostles .... 367 



Illustrations 

The war against Gibeon Fly-leaf 

The tower of Babel Frontispiece 

FACING 
PAGE 

Adam and Eve driven from the Garden of Eden 4 

Rebekah at the well . 20 

Samson slays a lion 142 

Jonah in Nineveh 242 

The star in the east ........ 272 

The prodigal son 326 

Paul's shipwreck 398 



Introductory Note 

THE main purpose of this edition is to condense 
the narrative portions of the Bible into a volume 
of moderate length possessing as much interest as 
possible for child readers. 

The Bible words and the Bible's impressive phrase- 
ology are retained almost exclusively; and such changes 
as have been made are of a minor nature. Most of 
them consist in merely substituting the names of per- 
sons or things for more or less indefinite pronouns. 
The verbal form is as a rule that of the King James 
Version ; but where the Revised Version or the marginal 
alternative readings offer words or phrases that are 
clearer to the youthful mind, these have been substituted 
for the usual text. 

Great care has been taken to have the narrative as 
connected as that in the Bible itself, or even more so; 
for continuity makes the impression stronger, and at- 
tracts much keener interest than a broken series of 
short stories. In perserving this continuity several 
books of the Old Testament are printed out of their 
customary order, that the events they chronicle may 
follow each other more accurately. Likewise, in the 
New Testament, all the four gospels have been drawn 
on to yield a single full and orderly story. 



viii Introductory Note 

Nearly every happening and circumstance is included 
to which young people are likely to find reference in 
their general reading or conversation. A knowledge 
of these is an essential part of education, and without 
such knowledge one's culture is seriously incomplete. 

The text is printed in the form that children are ac- 
customed to see in their other books, with short sen- 
tences and short paragraphs, and with quotation marks 
in their appropriate places. This gives the pages an 
increased attraction, for immature readers, at least, 
and makes the story more easily comprehended. 

I have omitted repetitions and all that is not essential 
to the main narrative, and have reduced as much as I 
could the multiplicity of names, both of places and of 
persons. Yet the eliminating has very rarely been of a 
nature to sacrifice any incident or detail that would 
prove of interest and be suitable for the average reader 
under fifteen years of age. 

Clifton Johnson. 
Hadley, Mass. 



The Narrative Bible 



THE BEGINNING 

IN the beginning God created the heaven and the 
earth. The earth was waste and void, and dark- 
ness was on the face of the deep. God said: "Let 
there be light;" and there was light, and God divided 
the light from the darkness. 

God called the light day, and the darkness He called 
night; and there was evening and there was morning, 
one day.* 

God said: "Let there be a firmament in the midst 
of the waters ; " and God made the firmament. 

God called the firmament heaven; and there was 
evening and there was morning, a second day. 

God said: "Let the waters under the heaven be 
gathered together into one place, and let the dry land 
appear; " and it was so. 

God called the dry land earth, and the gathering 
together of the waters He called seas. God said: "Let 
the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit- 
tree bearing fruit;" and it was so; and there was even- 
ing and there was morning, a third day. 

* Among the Hebrews the day was reckoned from sunset to sunset 



2 The Narrative Bible 

God said: "Let there be lights in the firmament of 
the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let 
them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and 
years; and let them give light on the earth;" and it 
was so. 

God made two lights, the greater light to rule the day, 
and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars 
also; and there was evening and there was morning, a 
fourth day. 

God said: "Let the waters bring forth abundantly 
moving creatures, and let fowls fly above the earth ;" 
and God created the great sea-monsters, and every 
creature that moveth in the waters, and every winged 
fowl; and there was evening and there was morning, 
a fifth day. 

God said: "Let the earth bring forth cattle and 
creeping things and beasts;" and it was so. 

God also created man in His own image. God 
formed man of the dust of the earth and breathed into 
his nostrils the breath of life; and God gave him domin- 
ion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls of the air, 
and over every living thing; and there was evening and 
there was morning, the sixth day. 

The heaven and the earth were finished and all the 
host of them; and on the seventh day God rested from 
all His work; and God blessed the seventh day and 
hallowed it. 



The Beginning 3 

The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, and out of 
the ground made grow every tree that is pleasant to the 
sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the 
midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge 
of good and evil; and a river watered the garden. The 
Lord God commanded the man, saying : " Of every tree 
of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of 
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat; for 
in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 

The Lord God brought every beast of the field and 
every fowl of the air unto the man to see what he would 
call them; and the man gave names to all cattle, and 
to the fowls of the air, and to every beast of the field. 

The Lord God said: "It is not good that the man 
should be alone. I will make a helpmeet for him;" 
and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on the 
man, and he took one of his ribs and made a woman 
and brought her unto the man. 

The serpent was more subtle than any beast of the 
field which the Lord God had made; and the serpent 
said unto the woman: "Hath God said ye shall not eat 
of every tree of the garden?" 

The woman said unto the serpent : " We may eat of 
the fruit of all the trees of the garden, except of the 
tree of knowledge. God hath said : ' Ye shall not eat of 
that; neither shall ye touch it lest ye die.' " 

The serpent said unto the woman: "Ye shall not 
die; for in the day ye eat thereof your eyes shall be 



4 The Narrative Bible 

opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and 
evil." 

When the woman was told that the fruit of the tree 
was good for food, and that it was to be desired to make 
one wise, she took of the fruit and did eat; and she gave 
also unto her husband, and he did eat. Then their eyes 
were opened and they knew that they were naked, and 
they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves 
aprons. Afterward they heard the Lord God walking 
in the garden in the cool of the day; and the man and 
his wife hid among the trees. The Lord God called 
unto the man and said : " Where art thou ? " 

The man said : " I heard Thee in the garden, and I 
was afraid, and I hid myself." 

The Lord God said: "Hast thou eaten of the tree 
whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not 
eat?" 

The man said: "The woman gave me of the tree, 
and I did eat." 

The Lord God said unto the woman : " What is this 
thou hast done ? " 

The woman said: "The serpent beguiled me, and 
I did eat." 

The Lord God said unto the serpent: "Because thou 
hast done this, cursed art thou. I will put enmity be- 
tween thee and the woman, and between thy seed and 
her seed." 

Unto the woman He said : " I will greatly multiply 
thy sorrow." 



The Beginning 5 

Unto Adam He said: "Because thou hast harkened 
to the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, 
cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou 
eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles 
shall it bring forth to thee." 

The man called his wife's name Eve; and the Lord 
God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins and 
clothed them. 

The Lord God said: "Behold the man knows good 
and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take 
also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever, I will 
send him forth from the garden of Eden to till the 
ground." 

So He drove out the man, and He placed at the east 
of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and a flaming 
sword which turned every way to keep the way of the 
tree of life. 

The first children born to Eve were Cain and Abel. 
Abel became a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller 
of the ground. In process of time it came to pass that 
Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto 
the Lord ; and Abel brought an offering of the firstlings 
of his flock. The Lord had respect unto Abel and to 
his offering; but unto Cain and to his offering He had 
not respect; and Cain was very wroth. 

The Lord said unto Cain: "Why art thou wroth? 
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted ? and if 
thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." 



6 The Narrative Bible 

Cain said to Abel: "Let us go into the field;" and 
when they were in the field Cain rose up against his 
brother, and slew him. 

The Lord said unto Cain: "Where is Abel thy 
brother?" 

Cain said: "I know not. Am I my brother's keeper ? " 

The Lord said : " What hast thou done ? The voice 
of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 
Cursed art thou. When thou tillest the ground, it shall 
not henceforth yield unto thee its strength. A fugitive 
and a wanderer shalt thou be on the earth." 

Cain said unto the Lord : " My punishment is greater 
than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this 
day, and from thy face shall I be hid ; and it shall come 
to pass that whosoever findeth me shall slay me." 

The Lord said unto him : " Whosoever slayeth Cain, 
vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold;" and the 
Lord set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should 
smite him. 

Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and 
dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. 



II 



THE FLOOD 

ADAM had many sons and daughters, and he lived 
nine hundred and thirty years. His son Seth 
lived nine hundred and twelve years, and Seth's de- 
scendant, Methuselah, lived nine hundred and sixty 
and nine years. 

The people multiplied, and the Lord saw that the 
wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that 
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil 
continually; and the Lord said: "I will destroy man 
whom I have created, and beast, and creeping thing, 
and fowl of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have 
made them." 

Only one man, Noah, found grace in the eyes of the 
Lord; and God said unto Noah: "The end of all 
flesh is come; for the earth is filled with violence. 
Make thee an ark of gopher wood. Rooms shalt thou 
make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without 
with pitch. The length of the ark shall be three hundred 
cubits,* and the height thirty cubits. A roof shalt thou 



*A cubit originally meant the length of the forearm from the 
elbow to the extremity of the middle finger. The cubit of the 
Hebrews was nearly eighteen inches. 



8 The Narrative Bible 

make to the ark, and a door shalt thou set in the side 
thereof. With lower, second and third stories shalt thou 
make it. Behold, I will cause it to rain forty days and 
forty nights; and every living thing that I have made 
will I destroy from off the face of the ground. But 
thou shalt come into the ark, thou, thy sons, and thy wife, 
and thy sons' wives; and of every living thing, two of 
every sort, male and female, shalt thou bring into the 
ark to keep them alive with thee. Of the fowls after their 
kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping 
thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort 
shall come unto thee to keep them alive; and take thou 
of all food that is eaten, and it shall be food for thee and 
for them." 

Noah did according unto all that the Lord com- 
manded him; and in the six hundredth year of Noah's 
life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the 
month, were all the fountains of the great deep broken 
up, and the windows of heaven were opened. In the 
selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and 
Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the 
three wives of his sons, into the ark; and every beast, 
and all the cattle, and every creeping thing, and every 
bird of every sort, went into the ark, two and two of all 
flesh, male and female; and the Lord shut them in. 

Forty days it rained, and the waters prevailed and 
increased greatly, and the ark went on the face of the 
waters. All the high mountains were covered and all 



The Flood 9 

flesh died, both fowl, and cattle, and beast, and every 
creeping thing, and every man. Noah only was left, and 
they that were with him in the ark. 

God remembered Noah, and God made a wind to 
pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged. The 
fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven 
were stopped, and the rain was restrained. The 
waters decreased and Noah opened the window of 
the ark and sent forth a dove to see if the waters were 
abated from off the face of the ground; but the dove 
found no rest for the sole of its foot and it returned ; and 
Noah put forth his hand and brought it into the ark. 
He stayed seven days, and again he sent the dove out 
of the ark; and the dove came in to him at eventide, 
and, lo, in its mouth an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah 
knew that the waters were abated from the earth. He 
stayed yet other seven days and sent forth the dove, 
which returned not again. 

More than a year after the flood began, Noah re- 
moved the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, 
the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. The face of 
the ground was dried, and God spake unto Noah, say- 
ing: "Go forth out of the ark." 

So Noah, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' 
wives, and every beast, every creeping thing, and every 
fowl, went forth out of the ark; and Noah builded an 
altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings on the 
altar. The Lord smelled the sweet savor, and the 
Lord said: "I will not again smite every thing living, 



10 The Narrative Bible 

as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime 
and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, 
and day and night shall not cease." 

God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them: 
"The fear of you and the dread of you shall be on 
every beast of the earth, and on every fowl of the air, 
and on all the fishes of the sea. Into your hand are they 
delivered; and behold, I establish my covenant with 
you and with every living creature. All flesh shall not 
be cut off any more by the waters of a flood. This is 
the token of the covenant which I make: I do set my 
bow in the cloud. It shall come to pass when I bring 
a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the 
cloud, and I will remember my covenant. ,, 

Many years passed and the people increased greatly, 
and the whole earth was of one family and of one 
speech. As they journeyed they found a plain in the 
land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. They said one 
to another : " Let us make brick and build a city, and 
a tower whose top may reach unto heaven." 

The Lord came down to see the city and the tower 
which the children of men builded ; and the Lord said : 
"Behold, they are one people, and they have all one 
language, and this is what they begin to do. Let us 
confound their language that they may not understand 
one another's speech." 

So the Lord scattered them abroad thence on the 
face of all the earth. They left off to build the city, 
and the city was called Babel. 



Ill 



ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB 

ABRAHAM, a descendant of Shem, dwelt in Haran, 
and the Lord said unto Abraham : " Get thee out 
of thy country and from thy kindred unto the land that 
I will show thee; and I will make of thee a great nation, 
and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that 
curseth thee will I curse." 

So Abraham took Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother's 
son, and all their substance that they had gathered, 
and they went forth into the land of Canaan; and the 
Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said: "Unto thy 
seed will I give this land." 

Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold. 
Lot also had flocks and herds and tents; and the land 
was not able to bear them that he and Abraham might 
dwell together. There was a strife between the herd- 
men of Abraham's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's 
cattle, and Abraham said unto Lot: "Let there be no 
strife between me and thee. Is not the whole land be- 
fore thee ? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me. 
If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the 
right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go 
to the left." 



12 The Narrative Bible 

Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld the Plain of Jordan 
that it was well watered everywhere like the garden of 
the Lord. Then Lot chose the Plain of Jordan, and 
Lot and Abraham separated the one from the other. 
Lot moved his tent as far as Sodom; but the men of 
Sodom were wicked and sinners against the Lord 
exceedingly. 

Abraham moved his tent and dwelt by the oaks of 
Mamre which are in Hebron, and built there an altar 
unto the Lord. As he sat in the tent door in the heat 
of the day, lo, three men stood over against him. They 
were the Lord and two angels. When Abraham saw 
them, he ran to them, and bowed himself to the earth, 
and said: "Pass not away from thy servant. Let a 
little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest 
yourselves; and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and 
comfort ye your hearts. After that ye shall pass on." 

They said: "So do as thou hast said." 

Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and 
said: "Make ready quickly three measures of fine 
meal, and make cakes." 

Then he ran unto the herd and fetched a calf tender 
and good, and gave it unto a servant, who dressed it. 
Abraham took butter, and milk, and the calf which had 
been prepared, and set this food before the men, and he 
stood by them, and they did eat. 

Later the men rose up and started toward Sodom, 
and Abraham went with them to bring them on the 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 13 

way; and the Lord said: "Because the cry of Sodom 
and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very 
grievous, I will go and see whether they have done 
altogether according to the cry which is come unto me." 

The two angels went on toward Sodom, but Abraham 
stood before the Lord and said: "Wilt thou destroy 
the righteous with the wicked ? Peradventure there 
be fifty righteous within the city, wilt thou not spare 
the place for the fifty righteous that are therein ?" 

The Lord said: "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous, 
then I will spare all the place for their sake." 

Abraham said: "Peradventure there shall lack five 
of the fifty righteous, wilt thou destroy all the city for 
lack of five?" 

The Lord said : " I will not destroy it if I find there 
forty and five." 

Abraham spake yet again and said: "Peradventure 
there shall be forty found ?" 

The Lord said : " I will not destroy it for the forty's 
sake." 

Abraham said : " Oh let not the Lord be angry, and 
I will speak. Peradventure there shall thirty be found ?" 

The Lord said : " I will not do it if I find thirty there." 

Abraham said: "Peradventure there shall be twenty 
found ?" 

The Lord said : " I will not destroy it for the twenty's 
sake." 

Abraham said : " Oh let not the Lord be angry, and 



14 The Narrative Bible 

I will speak yet this once. Peradventure ten shall be 
found ?" 

The Lord said: "I will not destroy it for the ten's 
sake;" and the Lord went his way, and Abraham 
returned. 

The two angels came to Sodom at even, and Lot 
sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up 
to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face to 
the earth; and he said: "My lords, turn aside, I pray 
you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and 
ye shall rise early, and go on your way." 

He urged them greatly, and they entered his house 
and he made them a feast and they did eat. But before 
they lay down, the men of the city compassed the house 
round, and called unto Lot, and said: "Where are the 
men that came in to thee this night ? Bring them out 
unto us." 

Lot went out and shut the door after him, and he 
said: "I pray you, my brethren, unto these men do 
nothing, forasmuch as they are come under the shadow 
of my roof." 

They said: "Now will we deal worse with thee than 
with them." 

They pressed sore on Lot, and drew near to break 
the door; but the two men put forth their hands, and 
pulled Lot into the house; and they smote the men 
that were at the door of the house with blindness, so 
they wearied themselves to find the door. Then the 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 15 

two men said unto Lot: "Hast thou here any others 
of thy family? Whomsoever thou hast in the city, 
bring them out; for we will destroy this place because 
the wickedness of its people is waxen great." 

Lot went and spake unto his sons-in-law, and his 
two daughters, and said: "Up, get you out of this 
place; for the Lord will destroy this city." 

But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that 
mocked. 

When it was morning the angels hastened Lot, 
saying: "Arise, take thy wife and thy two daughters, 
lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city." 

He lingered, and the men laid hold on his hand, and 
on the hand of his wife, and on the hands of his two 
daughters, and brought them forth, and set them 
without the city; and the men said unto Lot: "Escape 
for thy life. Look not behind thee, neither stay thou in 
all the Plain. Escape to the mountain, lest thou be 
consumed." 

Lot said unto them : " Oh, not so, my lords. Behold 
now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight. I 
cannot escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, 
and I die. There is a city near, and it is a little one. 
Oh, let me escape thither." 

They said unto him: "We have accepted thee con- 
cerning this thing also. We will not overthrow the 
city of which thou hast spoken. Haste thee; for we 
cannot do anything till thou be arrived thither." 



16 The Narrative Bible 

The name of the city was Zoar; and as Lot went 
toward it, his wife looked back from behind him, and 
she became a pillar of salt. The sun was risen when 
Lot entered Zoar. Then the Lord rained on Sodom 
and Gomorrah brimstone and fire out of heaven, and 
he overthrew those cities and all the Plain, and all 
the inhabitants of the cities, and all that grew on the 
ground. 

Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place 
where he had stood before the Lord; and he looked 
toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land 
of the Plain, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as 
the smoke of a furnace. But God had remembered 
Abraham, and had sent Lot out of the midst of the 
overthrow. 

Lot went from Zoar to the mountain; for he feared 
to dwell in Zoar; and he lived in a cave, he and his two 
daughters. 

Sarah, Abraham's wife was without children; and 
she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was 
Hagar; and Sarah gave her handmaid to Abraham to 
be his wife. Hagar bare Abraham a son, and Abra- 
ham called the name of his son, Ishmael. 

In her old age, Sarah, also bare a son, and Abraham 
named him Isaac. The child grew and Abraham 
made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned; 
and Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, mocking. 
Wherefore she said unto Abraham: "Cast out this 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 17 

bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bond- 
woman shall not be heir with my son." 

The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight; 
but God said unto Abraham : " In all that Sarah hath 
said, hearken unto her voice." 

So Abraham gave bread and a bottle of water unto 
Hagar and the child, and sent them away. They de- 
parted, and wandered in the wilderness; and the water 
in the bottle was spent, and Hagar cast the child under 
one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down a 
good way off; for she said: "Let me not look on the 
death of the child." 

She lifted up her voice and wept, and the angel of 
God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said: "What 
aileth thee, Hagar ? Fear not. Arise, lift up the lad ; 
for I will make him a great nation." 

God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, 
and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave 
the lad drink. God was with the lad, and he grew, and 
he dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer; and 
his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt. 

It came to pass after these things that God did prove 
Abraham, and said unto him: "Abraham, take now 
thy son Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and 
offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the moun- 
tains." 

Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his 
ass, and took two of his young men with him, and 



18 The Narrative Bible 

Isaac his son. He clave the wood for the burnt offering, 
and journeyed toward the place of which God had told 
him. On the third day he saw the place afar off, and 
Abraham said unto his young men: "Abide ye here 
with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder, and we 
will worship, and come again to you." 

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and 
laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the 
fire and the knife; and they went both of them together. 
Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said: "Be- 
hold the fire, and the wood; but where is the lamb for 
a burnt offering ?" 

Abraham said : " God will provide the lamb for a 
burnt offering, my son." 

They came to the place, and Abraham built an 
altar, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his 
son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. Abraham 
stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his 
son; and the angel of the Lord called unto him out of 
heaven, and said: "Abraham, Abraham." 

Abraham said: "Here am I." 

The angel said: "Lay not thine hand on the lad; 
for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast 
not withheld thy son from Him." 

Then Abraham saw behind him a ram caught in a 
thicket by its horns, and Abraham went and took the 
ram, and offered it for a burnt offering in the stead of 
his son. 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 19 

The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham a second 
time out of heaven, and said : " Because thou hast not 
withheld thy son, I will bless thee, and I will multiply 
thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which 
is on the seashore. In thy seed shall all the nations of 
the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my 
voice." 

So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they 
went with him to his dwelling-place. 

The life of Sarah was a hundred and seven and 
twenty years; and Sarah died in Hebron in the land of 
Canaan. 

Abraham was old, and well stricken in age; and the 
Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. Abraham 
said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled 
over all he had: "I pray thee, swear by the Lord, the 
God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou 
shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the 
Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but thou shalt go 
unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife 
for my son Isaac." 

The servant sware to him concerning this matter, 
and took ten camels, and went unto the city of Abra- 
ham's brother Nahor. He made the camels to kneel 
down without the city by a well of water at the time 
of evening that women go to draw water; and he said: 
" O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, send me 
good speed this day. Behold, I stand by the well, and 



20 The Narrative Bible 

the daughters of the city draw water. Let it come 
to pass, that the damsel of whom I shall ask drink be 
she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac." 

Before he had done speaking, Rebekah, daughter of 
Bethuel the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came 
with her pitcher on her shoulder; and the damsel was 
very fair to look on. She went down to the well, and 
filled her pitcher, and came up. The servant ran to 
meet her, and said: " Give me to drink, I pray thee." 

She said: "Drink, my lord;" and she let down her 
pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink. 

Then she said: "I will draw for thy camels also." 

She hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, 
and ran again unto the well, and drew for all his camels. 
The man looked steadfastly on her, and it came to pass, 
as the camels had done drinking, that he put on her a 
golden ring and two bracelets, and said: "Whose 
daughter art thou ? Tell me, I pray thee, is there 
room in thy father's house for me to lodge ?" 

She said unto him: "I am the daughter of Bethuel 
the son of Nahor. We have both straw and provender 
enough, and room to lodge in." 

The man bowed his head, and worshipped the Lord, 
and said : " Blessed be the God of my master Abraham, 
who hath led me to my master's brethren." 

The damsel ran, and told her mother's household. 
Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and when he 
saw the ring and the bracelets she wore, and heard his 



KPT* v ii^sm '*"- j.y^ 




Rebekah at the well 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 21 

sister's words, he went unto the man; and, behold, 
the man stood by the camels at the well. Laban said: 
" Come in, thou blessed of the Lord. Wherefore stand - 
est thou without?" 

The man followed Laban to the house, and Laban 
ungirded the camels, and gave straw and provender 
for the camels, and water to wash the man's feet and 
the feet of the men that were with him. Then there 
was set meat before him to eat; but he said: "I will 
not eat until I have told mine errand." 

Laban said: "Speak on." 

The man said: "I am Abraham's servant. The 
Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and hath given 
him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men- 
servants and maidservants, and camels and asses. My 
master hath a son, the only child of his wife Sarah, 
and my master made me swear, saying: 'Thou shalt 
not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the 
Canaanites; but thou shalt go to my kindred, and take 
a wife for my son.' I came this day unto the well, 
and behold, Rebekah came with her pitcher on her 
shoulder, and she went down and drew water, and gave 
me to drink. She made the camels drink also; and she 
said she was the daughter of Nahor's son, and I put the 
ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. Then 
I bowed my head, and blessed the Lord who had led me 
in the right way to take a daughter of my master's kin- 



22 The Narrative Bible 

dred for his son. Now if ye will deal kindly and truly 
with my master, tell me." 

Laban and Bethuel answered and said: "The thing 
proceedeth from the Lord. Rebekah is before thee; 
take her and let her be thy master's son's wife." 

When Abraham's servant heard their words, he 
brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and 
raiment, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to 
her brother and to her mother precious things; and he 
and the men that were with him did eat and drink, and 
tarried all night. 

They rose up in the morning, and he said: "Send 
me away unto my master. Hinder me not." 

Rebekah's brother and her mother called her, and 
said: "Wilt thou go with this man?" 

She said: "I will go." 

So they sent away Rebekah, and her nurse, and 
Abraham's servant, and his men. Rebekah and her 
damsels rode on the camels, and followed the man; 
and he went his way. 

Isaac dwelt in the south country; and Isaac went out 
to meditate in the field at eventide. He lifted up his 
eyes, and, behold, there were camels coming, and Re- 
bekah saw Isaac, and alighted off her camel. She said 
unto the servant: "What man is this that walketh in 
the field to meet us ?" 

The servant said: "It is Isaac." 

The servant told Isaac all the things that he had 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 23 

done; and Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother 
Sarah's tent, and Rebekah became his wife, and he 
was comforted after his mother's death. 

Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac; and these 
are the years of Abraham's life, a hundred three score 
and fifteen years; and Abraham died, and his sons 
Isaac and Ishmael buried him. 

Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to 
be his wife; and they had twin children, Esau and 
Jacob. The boys grew, and Esau became a cunning 
hunter, a man of the field ; and Jacob became a dweller 
in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his 
venison, and Rebekah loved Jacob. 

Esau came in from the field, and he was faint; and 
Esau said to Jacob: "Feed me, I pray thee." 

Jacob said: "Sell me first thy birthright." 

Esau said: "Behold, I am at the point to die, and 
what profit shall the birthright do to me?" 

So he sold his birthright unto Jacob; and Jacob 
gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and Esau did 
eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. 

It came to pass, when Isaac was old, and his eyes 
were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau, and 
said unto him: "My son, behold now, I am old, I 
know not the day of my death. Therefore, I pray thee, 
take thy quiver and thy bow, and go and get me some 
venison. Make me savory meat, such as I love, and 



24 The Narrative Bible 

bring it to me, that I may eat, that my soul may bless 
thee before I die." 

Rebekah heard what Isaac said, and when Esau 
went to hunt for venison, she spake unto Jacob saying: 
"I heard thy father say to Esau thy brother: 'Bring 
me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, 
and bless thee before my death.' Now therefore, my 
son, obey my voice according to that which I command 
thee. Go to the flock, and fetch me two good kids of 
the goats, and I will make them savory meat for thy 
father, such as he loveth; and thou shalt take it to thy 
father, so that he may bless thee." 

Jacob said to his mother: "Behold, Esau is a hairy 
man, and I am a smooth man. My father per ad venture 
will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver, and 
I shall bring a curse on me, and not a blessing." 

His mother said: "On me be thy curse, my son. 
Only obey my voice." 

Then he went and fetched the kids, and his mother 
made savory meat; and Rebekah took the goodly 
raiment of Esau, which was in the house, and put it on 
Jacob; and she put the skins of the kids on his hands, 
and on the smooth of his neck; and she gave the savory 
meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the 
hand of her son Jacob. 

He went unto his father, and said : " My father." 

Isaac said : " Here am I. Who art thou ?" 

Jacob said: "I am Esau. I have done according as 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 25 

thou badest me. I pray thee, eat of my venison, that 
thy soul may bless me." 

Isaac said: "How is it that thou hast prepared it so 
quickly, my son ?" 

Jacob said : " Because the Lord thy , God sent me good 
speed." 

♦ Isaac said unto Jacob: "Come near, I pray thee, 
that I may feel thee whether thou be my very son 
Esau or not." 

Jacob went near unto Isaac his father, and Isaac 
felt him, and said: "The voice is Jacob's voice, but 
the hands are the hands of Esau." 

He discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, 
as his brother Esau's hands; and he said: "I will eat 
of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee." 

Jacob brought it near to him, and he did eat; and 
Jacob brought wine, and he drank. Then Isaac said: 
"Come now, and kiss me, my son." 

So Jacob came and kissed him; and Isaac smelled 
the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, saying: 

"See, the smell of my son 

Is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed ; 

Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, 

And of the fatness of the earth, 
And plenty of corn and wine. 

Let peoples serve thee, 

And nations bow down to thee. 



26 The Narrative Bible 

Be lord over thy brethren, 

And let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. 

Cursed be everyone that curseth thee, 

And blessed be everyone that blesseth thee." 

It came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end 
of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was scarce gone out from 
the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau came in 
from his hunting. He also made savory meat, and 
brought it unto his father, and said: "Let my father 
arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may 
bless me." 

Isaac said unto him: "Who art thou?" 

Esau said: "I am thy son Esau." 

Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said : " Who then is 
he that brought venison to me, before thou earnest, 
and I have eaten, and have blessed him ?" 

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried 
with a great and bitter cry, and said : " Bless me, even 
me also, O my father!" 

Isaac said : " Thy brother came with guile, and hath 
taken away thy blessing." 

Esau said: " He hath supplanted me two times. He 
took away my birthright, and, behold, now he hath 
taken away my blessing. Hast thou not reserved a 
blessing for me?" 

Isaac answered and said: "I have made him thy 
lord, and with corn and wine have I sustained him; and 
what shall I do for thee, my son ?" 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 27 

Esau said: "Hast thou but one blessing, my father? 
Bless me, even me also, O my father;" and Esau lifted 
up his voice, and wept. 

Isaac answered and said unto him: 

"Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall be 
thy dwelling, 

And away from the dew of heaven from above; 
And by thy sword thou shalt live; 

And thou shalt serve thy brother." 

Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith 
Jacob had been blessed; and Esau said: "I will slay 
my brother Jacob." 

The words of Esau were told to Rebekah; and she 
sent and called Jacob, and said unto him: "Thy 
brother Esau doth purpose to kill thee. Now, therefore, 
my son, flee thou to Laban my brother at Haran, and 
tarry with him until thy brother's fury turn away from 
thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him." 

Jacob went toward Haran, and he alighted at a cer- 
tain place to tarry all night. The sun had set, and he 
took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his 
head, and lay down to sleep; and he dreamed, and 
behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it 
reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God 
ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above 
it, and said: "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham, 
and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou liest, 
to thee will I give it, and to thy seed ; and thy seed shall 



28 The Narrative Bible 

be as the dust of the earth. I am with thee, and will 
keep thee whithersoever thou goest." 

Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said : " Surely 
the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. This is 
the gate of heaven." 

Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone 
that he had put under his head, and set it up for a 
pillar, and poured oil on the top of it; and he called 
the name of that place Beth-el. 

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the 
land of the people of the east; and he looked, and 
behold a well, and three flocks of sheep lying by it; 
and the shepherds rolled the stone from the well's 
mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again 
on the well's mouth in its place. Jacob said unto them: 
"Know ye Laban the grandson of Nahor?" 

They said: "We know him." 

He said unto them: " Is he well ?" 

They said: "He is well; and, behold, Rachel his 
daughter cometh with his sheep." 

While they yet spake, Rachel came with her father's 
sheep. When Jacob saw Rachel, and the sheep, he 
went and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and 
watered the flock; and Jacob kissed Rachel, and told 
her that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told 
her father. 

When Laban heard the tidings of Jacob, his sister's 
son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 29 

brought him to his house. Jacob abode with Laban 
the space of a month; and Laban said unto Jacob: 
" Shouldest thou serve me for nought ? Tell me, what 
shall thy wages be?" 

Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder 
was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 
Jacob loved Rachel, and he said: "I will serve thee 
seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." 

Laban said : " It is better that I give her to thee, than 
that I should give her to another man. Abide with me." 

Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and he said unto 
Laban: " Give me my wife; for my days are fulfilled." 

Laban gathered together all the men of the place, 
and made a feast; and he took Leah his daughter, and 
brought her to be Jacob's wife. Jacob said to Laban: 
" What is this thou hast done ? Did not I serve with 
thee for Rachel ? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled 
me?" 

Laban said : " It is not so done in our place, to give 
the younger before the firstborn. We will give thee the 
other also, for which thou shalt serve me yet seven 
other years." 

So Laban gave him Rachel his daughter to wife, and 
Jacob served Laban yet seven other years. 

Jacob had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, 
Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, 
Joseph, and Benjamin; and Joseph and Benjamin, 
who were born last, were the children of Rachel. 



30 The Narrative Bible 

It came to pass that Jacob said unto Laban : " Send 
me away, that I may go to my own country. Give me 
my wives and my children, and let me go." 

Laban said: "If I have found favor in thine eyes, 
tarry; for I have divined that the Lord hath blessed 
me for thy sake." 

Jacob said : " Thou knowest how I have served thee, 
and how thy cattle have fared with me. It was little 
which thou hadst before I came, and thy herds have 
increased unto a multitude. The Lord hath blessed 
thee whithersoever I turned; and now when shall I 
provide for mine own house also ?" 

Laban said: "What shall I give thee?" 

Jacob said: "I will again feed thy flock and keep 
it, if thou wilt give me every black one among the sheep, 
and the spotted and speckled among the goats. Of such 
shall be my hire." 

Laban said: "Behold, I would it might be according 
to thy word." 

So Laban removed that day the goats that were 
speckled and spotted, and all the black ones among the 
sheep, and he set three days' journey betwixt himself 
and Jacob; and Jacob increased exceedingly, and had 
large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and 
camels and asses. 

Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and it was 
not toward him as beforetime; and the Lord said unto 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 31 

Jacob: "Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to 
thy kindred, and I will be with thee." 

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives 
on the camels, and he carried away all his cattle, and 
all his substance which he had gathered, for to go to 
Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. 

Laban was gone to shear his sheep, and Jacob stole 
away unawares. It was told Laban on the third day 
that Jacob was fled; and he took his brethren with 
him, and pursued after Jacob seven days' journey, and 
overtook him on the mountain of Gilead. Laban said 
to Jacob : " What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen 
away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters 
as captives of the sword. Wherefore didst thou flee 
secretly; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent 
thee away with mirth and with songs ? Now hast thou 
done foolishly." 

Jacob answered: "I was afraid, lest thou shouldst 
take thy daughters from me by force. This twenty 
years have I been with thee. In the day the drought 
consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep 
fled from mine eyes; and thou hast changed my wages 
ten times. Except God had been with me, surely thou 
hadst sent me away empty." 

Laban said unto Jacob : " Come, let us make a cove- 
nant, I and thou." 

Then Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar; 
and Laban said: "This pillar be witness, that I will 



32 The Narrative Bible 

not pass over it to thee, and that thou shalt not pass 
over it to me, for harm." 

Jacob offered a sacrifice, and they did eat bread and 
tarried all night on the mountain. Early in the morning 
Laban rose up, and kissed the children and his daugh- 
ters, and blessed them; and Laban departed, and 
returned unto his place. 

Jacob went on his way, and he sent messengers before 
him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir. He com- 
manded them, saying : " Thus shall ye speak unto my 
lord Esau: 'Thy servant Jacob saith: "I have sojourned 
with Laban until now, and I have oxen, and asses, and 
flocks, and menservants and maidservants; and I have 
sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight." 

The messengers returned to Jacob saying : " We went 
to thy brother Esau, and he cometh to meet thee, and 
four hundred men with him." 

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and 
he divided the people that was with him, and the 
flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two com- 
panies; and he said: "If Esau come to the one com- 
pany, and smite it, the company which is left shall 
escape." 

Afterward Jacob prepared a present for Esau his 
brother; two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, 
two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels 
with their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she- 
asses and ten foals. He delivered them into the hand 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 33 

of his servants, every drove by itself, and said: "Pass 
over the river Jabbok before me, and put a space be- 
twixt drove and drove." 

He commanded the foremost, saying: "When Esau 
my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee: * Whose 
drove is this ?' thou shalt say: ' It is thy servant Jacob's, 
and is a present sent unto my lord Esau." 

He commanded also the second, and the third, and 
all that followed, saying: "On this manner shall ye 
speak unto Esau, when ye find him, and ye shall say: 
' Moreover, thy servant Jacob is behind us.' ' 

For Jacob thought: "I will appease Esau with the 
present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see 
his face. Peradventure he will accept me." 

The present passed before him, and he rose up that 
night, and took his wives and children, and sent them, 
and all that he had, over the ford of Jabbok. Jacob 
was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until 
the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he 
prevailed not against Jacob, he touched the hollow of 
Jacob's thigh, and the thigh was strained as they 
wrestled; and the man said: "Let me go, for the day 
breaketh." 

Jacob said: "I will not let thee go, except thou 
bless me." 

The man said unto him: "What is thy name?" 

Jacob told him, and the man said: "Thou shalt be 



34 The Narrative Bible 

called no more Jacob, but Israel.* Thou hast striven 
with God and hast prevailed;" and he blessed him there. 

The sun rose, and Jacob joined his family, and he 
looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four 
hundred men. Jacob went and bowed himself to the 
ground seven times, until he came near to his brother; 
and Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and 
kissed him, and they wept. When Esau lifted up his 
eyes, and saw the women and the children, he said: 
"Who are these with thee?" 

Jacob said : " The family which God hath graciously 
given thy servant." 

Then Jacob's wives came near, and their children, 
and they bowed themselves. 

Esau said : " What meanest thou by all the company 
which I met?" 

Jacob said: "To find grace in the sight of my lord." 

Esau said: "I have enough. My brother, let that 
thou hast be thine." 

Jacob said: "Nay, I pray thee, receive my present;" 
and he urged him, and he took it. 

Then Esau said: "Let us go on our journey." 

Jacob said unto him: "My lord knoweth that the 
children are tender, and that if we overdrive the flocks 
and herds they all will die. Let my lord pass before 
his servant, and I will lead on softly, according to the 



*The name Israel means, "He who striveth with God." 



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 35 

pace of the cattle and according to the pace of the 
children, until I come to my lord at Seir." 

So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir; and 
Jacob came unto Isaac his father at Mamre. The days 
of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years; and 
Isaac died, and was gathered unto his people; and 
Esau and Jacob his sons buried him. Esau dwelt in 
Mount Seir; and Jacob dwelt in the land of Canaan. 



M. $$ 7 IV 

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

JOSEPH, being seventeen years old, fed the flock with 
his brethren. Israel loved Joseph more than any of 
his other children, and he made him a coat of many 
colors. When his brethren saw that their father loved 
him more than them, they hated him, and could not 
speak peaceably unto him. 

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he said to his brethren: 
"Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. 
Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, 
my sheaf arose, and stood upright; and your sheaves 
came round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf." 

His brethren said to him: "Shalt thou have dominion 
over us ?" and they hated him the more for his dream. 

He dreamed yet another dream, and said to his 
brethren: "I have dreamed a dream; and, behold, the 
sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to 
me." 

He told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his 
father rebuked him, and said : " What is this dream that 
thou hast dreamed ? Shall I and thy mother and thy 
brethren come to bow down ourselves to thee ? " 

His brethren envied him; but his father kept the 



Joseph and His Brethren 37 

saying in his mind. His brethren went to feed their 
father's flock in Shechem; and Israel said unto Joseph: 
"I will send thee unto them. Go now, see whether it 
be well with thy brethren, and well with the flock, and 
bring me word." 

Joseph went, and his brethren saw him afar off, and 
they said one to another: "Behold this dreamer cometh. 
Let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we 
will say: 'An evil beast hath devoured him; ' and we 
shall see what will become of his dreams." 

But Reuben said: "Let us not take his life. Cast 
him into a pit here in the wilderness; but lay no hand 
on him." 

This he said, that he might deliver him out of their 
hand, to restore him to his father. When Joseph was 
come unto his brethren, they stript him of his coat of 
many colors, and they took him, and cast him into a pit. 
Then they sat down to eat bread, and, behold, a travel- 
ing company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with 
their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, 
going to Egypt. 

Judah said unto his brethren : " What profit is it if we 
slay our brother ? Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites." 

His brethren harkened unto him, and they drew up 
Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites 
for twenty pieces of silver. Reuben was not with the 
others and knew not what they had done. When he 
went to the pit, behold, Joseph was not there; and 



38 The Narrative Bible 

he rent his clothes. He returned unto his brethren, 
and said : " The child is not." 

Then they took Joseph's coat, and they killed a goat, 
and dipped the coat in the blood ; and they brought the 
coat of many colors to their father, and said: "This 
have we found. Know now whether it be thy son's 
coat or not." 

He knew it, and said : " It is my son's coat. An evil 
beast hath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt 
torn in pieces;" and Jacob mourned for his son many 
days. 

Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, 
an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, 
bought him of the Ishmaelites. The Lord was with 
Joseph, and his master saw that the Lord made all he 
did to prosper. So Joseph found grace in his master's 
sight, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, 
and all that he had he put into his hand ; and the Lord 
blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. 

Joseph was comely, and well favored; and his mas- 
ter's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and loved him. She 
spake affectionately to him day by day, but he hearkened 
not unto her. It came to pass about this time, that he 
went into the house to do his work, and she caught him 
by his garment; and he left his garment in her hand, 
and fled. She laid up his garment, until his master 
came home. Then she said: "The Hebrew servant, 
which thou hast brought unto Us, came in unto me to 



Joseph and his Brethren 39 

mock me; and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he 
left his garment by me, and fled out." 

When Potiphar heard the words of his wife, his 
wrath was kindled, and he took Joseph, and put him 
into prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and gave 
him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison; and 
the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all 
the prisoners that were in the prison. 

It came to pass, that the chief butler of the king and 
the chief baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. 
Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, and he put 
them into the prison where Joseph was; and they 
dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night. 
Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw 
they were sad; and he asked: "Wherefore look ye so 
sadly today?" 

They said unto him: "We have each dreamed a 
dream, and there is none who can interpret them." 

Joseph said: "Tell me the dreams, I pray you." 

The chief butler said: "In my dream, behold, a vine 
was before me, and the vine had three branches. It 
budded, and blossomed, and the clusters thereof 
brought forth ripe grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my 
hand and I took the grapes, and pressed them into 
Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup to Pharaoh." 

Joseph said unto him: "This is the interpretation: 
The three branches are three days. In three days shall 
Pharaoh restore thee unto thine office, and thou shalt 



40 The Narrative Bible 

give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former man- 
ner when thou wast his butler. But have me in thy 
remembrance when it shall be well with thee, and shew 
kindness, I pray thee, unto me. Make mention of me 
unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this prison; for 
indeed I have done nothing that they should put me 
here." 

Then the chief baker said unto Joseph: "In my 
dream, behold, three baskets were on my head, and in 
the uppermost basket there was all manner of bake- 
meats for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of 
the basket." 

Joseph said: "This is the interpretation: The three 
baskets are three days. In three days shall Pharaoh 
lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a 
tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh." 

It came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's 
birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants; 
and he restored the chief butler unto his butlership, 
and the butler gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand; but 
he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted. 
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot 
him. 

At the end of two years Pharaoh dreamed he stood 
by the river Nile; and, behold, there came up out of 
the river seven kine, well favored and fatfleshed, and 
they fed in the reed-grass; and, behold, seven other 
kine came up out of the river, ill favored and lean- 



Joseph and his Brethren 41 

fleshed, and the ill favored and leanfleshed kine did 
eat up the seven well favored and fat kine; and when 
they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they 
had eaten them; but they were still ill favored, as at 
the beginning. Then Pharaoh awoke. 

He slept and dreamed a second time; and, behold, 
seven ears of corn grew on one stalk, rank and good; 
and, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east 
wind sprung up after them, and the thin ears devoured 
the seven rank and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and, 
behold, it was a dream. 

It came to pass in the morning that his spirit was 
troubled, and he sent for all the magicians of Egypt, 
and all the wise men thereof. Pharaoh told them his 
dreams; but there was none that could interpret them 
unto him. 

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying: 
"I do remember Pharaoh put me and the chief baker 
in prison, and we each dreamed a dream; and there 
was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the 
captain of the guard. We told him, and he interpreted 
to us our dreams; and it came to pass, as he inter- 
preted to us, so it was." 

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they 
brought him hastily out of the dungeon, and he shaved 
himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto 
Pharaoh. 

Pharaoh said unto Joseph: " I have dreamed a dream, 



42 The Narrative Bible 

and there is none that can interpret it. I have heard 
say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst 
interpret it." 

Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying : " God shall give 
Pharaoh an answer." 

Then Pharaoh told his two dreams, and Joseph said : 
" God hath showed Pharaoh what He is about to do. 
The seven good kine are seven years, and the seven 
good ears are seven years. The dreams are one. 
The seven lean and ill favored kine are seven years, 
and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind. 
They shall be seven years of famine. Behold, there 
come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land 
of Egypt, and there shall arise after them seven years 
of famine, and the famine shall consume the land, for 
it shall be very grievous. Now therefore let Pharaoh 
look out a man'discreet and wise, and set him over the 
land of Egypt; and let Pharaoh appoint overseers to 
gather the food of the good years, and lay up corn. 
The food shall be for a store against the seven years of 
famine, that we perish not." 

The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the 
eyes of all his servants, and Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 
"Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is 
none so discreet and wise as thou. Thou shalt be over 
my house, and according unto thy word shall all my 
people be ruled." 

Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and 



Joseph and his Brethren 43 

put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of 
fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. He 
made him ride in the second chariot which he had, and 
set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh gave him to 
wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On; 
and Joseph was thirty years old. 

Joseph went throughout all the land of Egypt, and 
in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by 
handfuls; and he gathered up the food of the seven 
years, and laid up corn as the sand of the sea. 

Unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of 
famine came, and Joseph called the name of the first- 
born Manasseh, and the name of the second called he 
Ephraim. 

The seven years of plenty came to an end, and the 
seven years of dearth began, according as Joseph had 
said. There was famine in all lands ; but in the land of 
Egypt there was bread; and when the land of Egypt 
was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. 
Pharaoh said to the Egyptians : " Go unto Joseph. 
What he saith to you, do." 

Joseph opened the storehouses, and sold unto the 
Egyptians ; and all countries came into Egypt to Joseph 
to buy corn, because the famine was sore in all the earth. 

When Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, he 
said unto his sons : " Why do ye look one on another ? 
There is corn in Egypt. Get you thither, and buy for 
us, that we may live, and not die." 



44 The Narrative Bible 

So Joseph's ten older brethren went to buy corn from 
Egypt. But Benjamin, Jacob sent not; for he said: 
" Lest perad venture mischief befall him." 

Joseph was the governor over the land. He it was 
that sold to all the people; and his brethren came, and 
bowed down themselves before him with their faces to 
the earth. Joseph knew his brethren, but made him- 
self strange unto them, and spake roughly with them. 
He said : " Whence come ye ? " 

They said: "From the land of Canaan to buy food." 

Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed 
of them, and said : " Ye are spies. To see the nakedness 
of the land ye are come." 

They said unto him: "Nay, my lord, but to buy food 
are thy servants come. We are true men. Thy servants 
are no spies. We are the sons of one man in the land of 
Canaan; and, behold, our youngest brother is with our 
father." 

Joseph said unto them: "Ye are spies. By the life of 
Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your young- 
est brother come hither, and ye shall be kept in prison, 
that your words may be proved, whether there be truth 
in you." 

He put them all into prison three days, and Joseph 
said unto them the third day : " Let one of you be bound 
in your prison; but go the rest of ye, and carry corn 
for the famine of your households, and bring your 



Joseph and his Brethren 45 

youngest brother unto me. So shall your words be 
verified, and ye shall not die." 

They agreed to do as he commanded; and they said 
one to another: "We are verily guilty concerning our 
brother Joseph, in that, when he besought us, we would 
not hear. Therefore is this distress come on us." 

Reuben said: "Spake I not unto you, saying: 'Do 
not sin against the child ;' and ye would not hear ? " 

They knew not that Joseph understood them; for he 
spake unto them by an interpreter; and he turned him- 
self about from them, and wept. Then he returned, 
and took Simeon from among them, and bound him 
before their eyes. Joseph commanded to fill their sacks 
with corn, and to restore every man's money into his 
sack, and to give them provisions for the way. 

Thus was it done unto them, and they laded their 
asses with their corn, and departed. As one of them 
opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging 
place, he espied his money, and, behold, it was in the 
mouth of his sack. He said unto his brethren: "My 
money is restored, and, lo, it is in my sack." 

Then their hearts failed them, and they turned trem- 
bling one to another, saying: " What is this that God hath 
done unto us ? " 

They came unto Jacob their father and told him all 
that had befallen them, saying: "The man, who is lord 
of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of 
the country. We said unto him: 'We are true men. 



46 The Narrative Bible 

We be brethren, and one other brother, the youngest, is 
with our father in the land of Canaan.' 

"The lord of the land said unto us: * Leave one of 
your brethren with me, and go your way and bring your 
youngest brother unto me.' " 

Jacob said: "Me have ye bereaved of my children. 
Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Ben- 
jamin away. He shall not go with you; for his brother 
is dead, and he only is left. If mischief befall him, then 
shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the 
grave." 

The famine was sore in the land, and it came to pass, 
when they had eaten the corn which they had brought 
out of Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons: "Go again. 
Buy us a little food." 

Judah spake, saying : " If thou wilt send our brother 
with us, we will go and buy thee food; but if thou wilt 
not send him, we will not go; for the man said unto us: 
' Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with 

you.' " 

Israel said: "Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to 
tell the man ye had yet a brother ? " 

They said: "The man asked straitly concerning our- 
selves and our kindred, saying: 'Is your father yet 
alive? Have ye another brother?' and we told him. 
Could we in any wise know that he would say: 'Bring 
your brother ' ? " 

Judah said unto his father: "Send the lad with me, 



Joseph and his Brethren 47 

and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, 
both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be 
surety for him. Of my hand shalt thou require him. 
If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, 
then let me bear the blame forever." 

Israel said: "Do this; take of the choice fruits of the 
land and carry the man a present, a little balm, and a 
little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. 
Take double money in your hands; and the money 
that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again. 
Peradventure it was an oversight. Take also your 
brother, and God Almighty give you mercy before the 
man, that he may release unto you your other brother 
and Benjamin." 

The men took the present, and they took double 
money, and Benjamin, and went to Egypt, and stood 
before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, 
he said to the steward of his house: "Bring the men in, 
and make ready, for they shall dine with me at noon." 

The steward did as Joseph bade, and brought the 
men into Joseph's house; and they were afraid. They 
said : " Because of the money that was in our sacks are 
we brought in, that he may seek occasion against us, 
and fall on us, and take us for bondmen." 

They drew near to the steward of Joseph's house, and 
said: " Oh my lord, we came the first time to buy food, 
and when we went to the lodging place, we opened our 
sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth 



48 The Narrative Bible 

of his sack, and we have brought it again. Other money 
have we brought to buy food. We know not who put 
our money in our sacks." 

The steward said: "Peace be to you. Fear not. 
Your God, and the God of your father, hath given you 
treasure in your sacks." 

Then he brought Simeon unto them, and gave them 
water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their 
asses provender. 

They made ready the present, and when Joseph came 
home, they brought him the present, and bowed down 
themselves to him to the earth. He asked them of their 
welfare, and said : " Is your father well, the old man of 
whom ye spake ? Is he yet alive ? " 

They answered : " Thy servant our father is in good 
health;" and they made obeisance. 

Joseph saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, 
and said : " God be gracious unto thee." 

His heart did yearn toward his brother, and he en- 
tered his chamber, and wept there. Then he washed 
his face, and came out, and said: " Set on bread." 

The servants set on for him by himself, and for his 
brethren by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did 
eat with him, by themselves, because the Egyptians 
might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an 
abomination unto the Egyptians. Joseph sent messes 
unto his brethren from before him; but Benjamin's 



Joseph and his Brethren 49 

mess was five times as much as any of theirs ; and they 
drank and were merry. 

Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: 
"Fill the men's sacks with grain, as much as they can 
carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth; 
and put my silver cup in the sack's mouth of the young- 
est, with his corn money." 

The steward did according to the words that Joseph 
had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the men 
were sent away, they and their asses. When they were 
gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph 
said unto his steward: "Up, follow after the men, and 
when thou dost overtake them, say unto them: 'Where- 
fore have ye rewarded evil for good ? Have ye not 
stolen the silver cup from which my lord drinketh ? ' 

He overtook them and spake unto them these words, 
and they said : " God forbid that thy servants should do 
such a thing. Behold, the money, which we found in 
our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of 
the land of Canaan. How then should we steal out of 
thy lord's house silver or gold ? With whomsoever of 
thy servants the cup be found, let him die, and the others 
of us will be my lord's bondsmen." 

The steward said : " He with whom the cup is found 
shall be my bondman; but the rest shall be blameless." 

Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack 
to the ground, and opened every man his sack. The 
steward searched, and began at the eldest, and left at 



50 The Narrative Bible 

the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's 
sack. Then the brethren rent their clothes, and laded 
every man his ass, and returned to the city. Judah and 
his brethren came to Joseph's house, and they fell be- 
fore him on the ground. Joseph said unto them : " What 
deed is this that ye have done ? " 

Judah said : " What shall we say unto my lord ? or 
how shall we clear ourselves ? Behold, we are my lord's 
bondmen." 

Joseph said: "The man in whose sack the cup was 
found, he shall be my bondman. As for the rest of 
you, get you in peace unto your father." 

Then Judah came near unto him, and said : " Oh my 
lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my 
lord's ears. My lord asked his servants, saying: 'Have 
ye a father, or another brother ? ' 

"We said unto my lord: 'We have a father, an old 
man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his 
brother is dead. He alone is left of his mother, and his 
father loveth him.' 

"Thou saidst unto thy servants: 'Bring him unto 
me that I may set mine eyes on him.' 

"We said unto my lord: 'The lad cannot leave his 
father; for if he should, his father would die.' 

" Thou saidst unto thy servants : ' Except your young- 
est brother come with you, ye shall see my face no 
more.' 

" When we came unto thy servant my father, we told 



Joseph and his Brethren 51 

him the words of my lord. Our father said: 'Go again, 
and buy us a little food.' 

" We said : ' We may not see the man's face, except our 
youngest brother be with us.' 

" My father said unto us : * Ye know that Rachel my 
wife had two sons, and the one went out from me, and 
I have not seen him since. If ye take this one also from 
me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my 
gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.' 

" Now therefore when I come to my father, and the 
lad be not with us, seeing that his life is bound 
up in the lad's life, he will die. Thy servant became 
surety for the lad unto my father. Let thy servant, I 
pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my 
lord; and let the lad go with his brethren. For how 
shall I go to my father, and the lad be not with me? 
lest I see the evil that shall come on my father." 

Then Joseph could not refrain himself, and he cried: 
"Cause every man to go out from me except these 
Hebrews." 

When there stood no others with them, Joseph wept 
aloud, and said: "I am Joseph. Come near to me, I 
pray you." 

They came near, and he said: "I am Joseph your 
brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Be not grieved, nor 
angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God 
did send me before you to preserve life. Two years hath 
the famine been in the land, and there are yet five years, 



52 The Narrative Bible 

in the which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest. 
God sent me before you to save you alive by a great 
deliverance. Haste ye, and go to my father, and say 
unto him: ' Thus saith thy son Joseph: " God hath made 
me lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me. Tarry not; 
and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, 
and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy 
herds, and all that thou hast. I will nourish thee." 
Ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of 
all that ye have seen." 

Then Joseph fell on his brother Benjamin's neck, 
and wept; and he kissed all his brethren, and wept on 
them. After that his brethren talked with him. 

The fame of all this was heard in Pharaoh's house, 
and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants; and 
Pharaoh said unto Joseph: "Say unto thy brethren: 
'This do ye; lade your beasts, and get you unto the 
land of Canaan, and take your father and your house- 
holds, and come unto me, and ye shall eat of the fat of 
the land. Take you wagons out of the land of Egypt 
for your little ones, and for your wives, and your father. 
The good of the land of Egypt is yours.' " 

Joseph gave his brethren wagons, according to the 
commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions 
for the way. To each of them he gave changes of rai- 
ment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces 
of silver, and five changes of raiment. So his brethren 
departed, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob 



Joseph and his Brethren 53 

their father. They told him, saying: "Joseph is yet 
alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." 

Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not, and 
they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said 
unto them, and when Jacob saw the wagons which 
Joseph had sent, his spirit revived, and he said: "It 
is enough. Joseph my son is yet alive. I will go and 
see him before I die." 

Jacob rose up, and his sons carried him, and their 
little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pha- 
raoh had sent; and they took their cattle, and their 
goods, and came into Egypt. Jacob sent Judah before 
him unto Joseph, and Joseph made ready his chariot, 
and went to meet his father. He presented himself unto 
him, and fell on his neck, and wept a good while. 

Israel said unto Joseph: " Now let me die, since I have 
seen thy face, that thou art yet alive." 

Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said : " My 
father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their 
herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land 
of Canaan." 

From among his brethren he took five men, and pre- 
sented them unto Pharaoh; and Pharaoh said unto 
them : " What is your occupation ? " 

They said: "Thy servants are shepherds." 

Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying: "The land of 
Egypt is before thee. In the best of the land make thy 
father and thy brethren to dwell. In the land of Goshen 



54 The Narrative Bible 

let them dwell; and if thou knowest any able men 
among them, make them rulers over my cattle." 

Joseph brought in his father, and set him before 
Pharaoh; and Pharaoh said unto Jacob: "How old art 
thou ?" 

Jacob said unto Pharaoh: "The years of my pilgrim- 
age are a hundred and thirty. Few and evil have been 
the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the 
years of the life of my fathers;" and Jacob blessed 
Pharaoh, and went out from his presence. 

There was no bread in all the land; for the famine 
was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of 
Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. Joseph 
gathered up all the money that was found in the land of 
Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for corn which the 
people bought, and Joseph brought the money into 
Pharaoh's house. Then all the Egyptians came unto 
Joseph and said : " Give us bread ; for why should we 
die?" 

Joseph said : " I will give you bread in exchange for 
your cattle, if money fail." 

So they brought their cattle unto Joseph, and Joseph 
gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the 
flocks, and for the herds, and for the asses. 

When that year was ended, they came unto him the 
second year, and said unto him : " Our money is all 
spent, and the herds of cattle are my lord's. There is 
nought left but our bodies and our lands. Wherefore 



Joseph and his Brethren 55 

should we die before thine eyes ? Buy us and our land 
for bread, and we will be servants unto Pharaoh." 

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. 
The Egyptians sold every man his field, because the 
famine was sore on them, and the land became Pha- 
raoh's. Only the land of the priests bought he not; 
for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh. 

Then Joseph said unto the people: "Behold, I have 
bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Lo, here is 
seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. At the ingather- 
ings ye shall give a fifth unto Pharaoh, and four parts 
shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your 
food." 

They said : " Thou hast saved our lives, and we will 
be Pharaoh's servants." 

Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years ; and 
the time drew near that he must die; and he called his 
son Joseph, and said unto him: "Bury me not, I pray 
thee, in Egypt, but when I die, thou shalt carry me out 
of Egypt, and bury me with my fathers in their burying- 
place." 

Joseph said: " I will do as thou hast said." 

It came to pass after these things, that Jacob was 
sick, and Joseph went to him. It was told Jacob: 
"Thy son Joseph cometh unto thee," and he strength- 
ened himself, and sat up on the bed. 

Israel said unto Joseph: "Behold, I die; but God 
shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of 



56 The Narrative Bible 

your fathers;" and he called unto his other sons, and 
blessed them. 

Then Jacob gathered up his feet into the bed, and 
yielded up the ghost. Joseph commanded the phy- 
sicians to embalm his father, and he spake unto Pha- 
raoh, saying: "My father made me swear to bury him 
in the land of Canaan. Now therefore let me go, I pray 
thee, and bury my father, and I will come again." 

Pharaoh said : " Go and bury thy father, according as 
he made thee swear." 

So Joseph went to bury his father - , and with him 
went his brethren, and all the servants of Pharaoh, and 
all the elders of the land of Egypt. There went with 
him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very 
great company. They came to the land of Canaan, 
and buried Jacob; and Joseph returned into Egypt, 
he, and his brethren, and all that went with him to 
bury his father. 

Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house; 
and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years, and he 
said unto his brethren: "I die; but God will surely 
visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land 
which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; 
and ye shall carry my bones hence." 

So Joseph died, and they embalmed him, and he 
was put in a coffin in Egypt. 



JOB AND HIS FRIENDS 

THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name 
was Job ; and that man was perfect and upright, and 
one that feared God. There were born unto him seven 
sons and three daughters. His substance was seven 
thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five 
hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and 
a very great household, so that this man was the greatest 
of all the men of the east. 

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came 
also among them; and the Lord said unto Satan: 
"Whence comest thou?" 

Then Satan answered and said: "From going to 
and fro on the earth." 

The Lord said: "Hast thou considered My servant 
Job ? for there is none like him, a perfect and an up- 
right man." 

Satan answered and said : " Doth Job fear God for 
nought? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, 
and his substance is increased. But put forth Thine 
hand, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee 
to Thy face." 



58 The Narrative Bible 

The Lord said unto Satan : " Behold, all that he hath 
is in thy power." 

So Satan went from the presence of the Lord; and 
on a day when Job's sons and daughters were eating 
and drinking in their eldest brother's house, there came 
a messenger unto Job, and said: "The oxen were 
plowing, and the asses feeding beside them, and the 
Sabeans took them away. Yea, they have slain the 
servants with the edge of the sword, and I only am 
escaped to tell thee." 

While he was yet speaking, there came another, and 
said: "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and 
hath burned up the sheep, and the servants. I only am 
escaped to tell thee." 

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, 
and said: "The Chaldeans made a raid on the camels, 
and have taken them away, and slain the servants. I 
only am escaped to tell thee." 

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, 
and said: "Thy sons and thy daughters were eating in 
their eldest brother's house; and there came a great 
wind from the wilderness, and smote the house, and it 
fell, and they are dead. I only am escaped to tell thee." 

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his 
head, and fell down on the ground and worshipped. 
He said: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." 

Again there was a day when the sons of God came 
to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came 
also. The Lord said unto Satan: "My servant Job 



Job and his Friends 59 

still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst 
Me against him." 

Satan answered: "All that a man hath will he give 
for his life. Put forth Thine hand, and touch his bone 
and his flesh, and he will curse Thee to Thy face." 

The Lord said unto Satan: "Behold, he is in thine 
hand. Only spare his life." 

So Satan went from the presence of the Lord, and 
smote Job with boils from the sole of his foot unto his 
crown; and he sat among the ashes. Then said his 
wife unto him : " Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity ? 
Curse God, and die." 

But he said unto her : " Thou speakest as one of the 
foolish women speaketh." 

When Job's three friends, Eliphaz, and Bildad, and 
Zophar, heard of all this evil that was come on him, 
they came to comfort him. They lifted up their eyes 
afar off, and knew him not, and they wept, and rent 
every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust on their heads.* 
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days 
and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him; 
for they saw that his pain was very great. After this 
opened Job his mouth and said: 

" Let the day perish wherein I was born. 
Why died I not ? for now should I have been quiet. 

*To rend the clothes as a manifestation of great sorrow was a com- 
mon custom in Bible times. The outer garment was a flowing mantle, 
and the rent was made more or less long according to the feelings of 
the afflicted one. To shave the head was another method of showing 
grief; and to sit among the ashes signified the deepest mourning and 
humility. Putting dust or earth on the head was likewise a conven- 
tional way of showing profound sorrow. 



60 The Narrative Bible 

There the wicked cease from troubling; 
And there the weary be at rest. 
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, 
And life unto the bitter in soul ?" 
Then Eliphaz said: 
"Man is born unto trouble, 
As the sparks fly upward. 
But as for me, I would seek unto God, 
And unto God would I commit my cause; 
Who doeth great things and unsearchable, 
Marvellous things without number. 
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth. 
Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the 
Almighty." 
Then Job said: 

" The arrows of the Almighty are within me, 
The terrors of God do set themselves in array 

against me. 
Oh that I might have my request! 
Even that it would please God to destroy me. 
When I lie down, I say: 
* When shall I arise, and the night be gone ?' 
And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawn- 
ing of the day. 
I loathe my life. I would not live alway. 
Let me alone; for my days are vanity." 
Then Bildad said: 

"If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, 
If thou wert pure and upright; 



Job and his Friends 61 

Surely now He would awake for thee, 

And make the habitation of thy righteousness pros- 
perous." 
Then Job said: 
"My soul is weary of my life. 

I will give free course to my complaint. 

I will say unto God: 'Do not condemn me. 

Seest Thou as man seest, 

That Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, 

And searchest after my sin, 

Although Thou knoweth that I am not wicked ? 

Are not my days few ? Cease then, 

And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, 

Before I go whence I shall not return/ " 
Then Zophar said: 
" Should thy boastings make men hold their peace ? 

Oh that God would speak, 

And that He would show thee the secrets of wisdom. 

But vain man is void of understanding. 

Yea, man is born as a wild ass's colt." 
Then Job said: 
"I have understanding as well as you. 

Ye are forgers of lies. 

Ye are all physicians of no value. 

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace ! 

Your sayings are proverbs of ashes. 

Your defences are defences of clay. 



62 The Narrative Bible 

Behold now, I have set my cause in order, 

I know that I am righteous." 
Then Eliphaz said: 
" Thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. 

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I. 

Are the consolations of God too small for thee ? 

The wicked man behaveth himself proudly against 
the Almighty, 

He shall not depart out of darkness." 
Then Job said: 
" I have heard many such things. 

Miserable comforters are ye all. 

God casteth me into the hands of the wicked. 

I was at ease, and He dashed me to pieces." 
Then Bildad said: 
"The light of the wicked shall be put out. 

He is cast into a net by his own feet. 

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side. 

His remembrance shall perish from the earth." 
Then Job said: 
" Have pity on me, have pity on me, O ye my friends; 

For the hand of God hath touched me. 

But I know that my Redeemer liveth, 

And that He shall stand up at the last on the earth." 
Then Zophar said: 
"The triumphing of the wicked is short. 

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be 
found. 



Job and his Friends 63 

Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the 
night. 

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, 

And the earth shall rise up against him." 
Then Job said: 
"Shall any teach God knowledge? 

One dieth in his full strength, 

Being wholly at ease and quiet; 

And another dieth in bitterness of soul, 

And never tasteth of good. 

They lie down alike in the dust." 
Then Eliphaz said: 
" Can a man be profitable unto God ? 

Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself. 

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, 

And light shall shine on thy ways." 
Then Job said: 
" Oh that I knew where I might find Him ! 

My foot hath held fast to His steps. 

His way have I kept, and turned not aside. 

Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me. 

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go. 

For what is the hope of the godless, though he get 
him gain ? 

Will God hear his cry, 

When trouble cometh on him? 

Terrors overtake him like waters; 

A tempest stealeth him away in the night. 



64 The Narrative Bible 

Where shall wisdom be found ? 
The deep saith: 'It is not in me.' 
It cannot be gotten for gold; 
Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies. 
God understandeth the way thereof, 
And unto man He said: 

'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; 
And to depart from evil is understanding.' 
Oh that I were as in the months of old, 
As in the days when God watched over me. 
I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 
I was eyes to the blind, 
And feet was I to the lame. 
I was a father to the needy. 
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, 
And kept silence for my counsel. 
But my welfare is passed away as a cloud, 
And the pains that gnaw me take no rest. 
I am a brother to dragons, 
And a companion to owls. 
Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, 
And my pipe into the voice of them that weep." 
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, 
and said: 

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of 
the earth? 
Who laid the corner stone thereof; 
When the morning stars sang together, 



Job and his Friends 65 

And all the sons of God shouted for joy ? 

Hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep ? 

Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee ? 

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, 

And as for darkness, where is the place thereof? 

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, 

That abundance of waters may cover thee ? 

Who provideth for the raven his food ? 

Hast thou given the horse his might? 

Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering 

mane ? 
Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom ? 
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command 
And make her nest on high?" 
Then Job answered the Lord, and said: 
"Behold, I am of small account. What shall I 

answer Thee ? 
I know that Thou canst do all things, 
And that no purpose of Thine can be restrained. 
I have uttered that which I understood not; 
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent 
In dust and ashes." 

The Lord said to Eliphaz: "My wrath is kindled 
against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have 
not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant 
Job hath. Now, therefore, take unto you seven bullocks 
and seven rams, and offer up for yourselves a burnt 



66 The Narrative Bible 

offering; and Job shall pray for you, that I deal not 
with you after your folly." 

So Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar did according as 
the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted 
Job; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had 
before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and 
all his sisters, and all that had been of his acquaintance 
before, and did eat bread with him in his house, and 
they comforted him concerning all the evil that the 
Lord had brought on him. 

The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his 
beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and 
six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and 
a thousand she-asses. He had also seven sons and three 
daughters, and in all the land were no women found so 
fair as the daughters of Job. After this Job lived a 
hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his 
sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being 
old and full of days. 



VI 



MOSES AND THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT 

JOSEPH died, and all his brethren, and all that gene- 
ration; and the children of Israel increased abun- 
dantly, and waxed exceeding mighty, and the land was 
filled with them. 

Now there arose a king over Egypt, who remembered 
not Joseph; and he said unto his people: "Behold, 
the children of Israel are more than we. Come, let us 
deal with them, lest, when there falleth out any war, 
they join our enemies, and fight against us, and get out 
of the land." 

Therefore the Egyptians set over the Israelites task- 
masters to afflict them with burdens, and made their 
lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, 
and in all manner of service in the field. Pharaoh also 
charged his people, saying: "Every son that is born 
among the Israelites ye shall cast into the river." 

A man of the house of Levi took a wife, and the 
woman bare a son. When she saw that he was a goodly 
child, she hid him three months; and when she could 
not longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes, and 
daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the 



68 The Narrative Bible 

child therein, and laid the ark in the flags by the river's 
brink. 

The child's sister stood afar off to know what would 
be done to him; and the daughter of Pharaoh came 
down to bathe in the river. She saw the ark among the 
flags and sent her maid to fetch it; and the maid opened 
it, and saw the child. The babe wept, and the maid 
had compassion on him, and said : " This is one of the 
Hebrews' children." 

Then said the child's sister to Pharaoh's daughter: 
" Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women, that she 
may nurse the child for thee?" 

Pharaoh's daughter said to the child: "Go." 

The maid went and called the child's mother; and 
Pharaoh's daughter said unto the woman: "Take this 
child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee 
thy wages." 

The woman took the child and nursed it, and the 
child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's 
daughter. He became a son to Pharaoh's daughter, 
and she called his name Moses. 

It came to pass, when Moses was grown up, that he 
went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; 
and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew. He looked 
this way and that way, and when he saw no one else, 
he slew the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. 

He went out the second day, and, behold, two men 
of the Hebrews strove together; and he said to him 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 69 

that did the wrong: "Wherefore smitest thou thy 
fellow ?" 

The man said: "Who made thee a prince and a 
judge over us ? Intendest thou to kill me as thou killed 
the Egyptian ?" 

Then Moses feared, and said: "Surely the thing is 
known." 

When Pharaoh heard it he sought to slay Moses; 
but Moses fled to the land of Midian; and he sat down 
by a well. The priest of Midian had seven daughters, 
and they came down and drew water, and filled the 
troughs to water their father's flock ; and the shepherds 
came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and 
helped them, and watered their flock. 

When they came to their father, he said: "How 
is it that ye are come so soon today ?" 

They said: "An Egyptian delivered us out of the 
hand of the shepherds, and drew water for us, and 
watered the flock." 

He said unto his daughters: "And where is he? 
Why is it that ye have left the man ? Call him that he 
may eat bread." 

Moses was content to dwell there, and Jethro the 
priest of Midian gave Moses Zipporah his daughter 
for a wife. 

In process of time the king of Egypt died, and the 
children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage. 



70 The Narrative Bible 

God heard their groaning, and God remembered his 
covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 

Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in- 
law. He led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and 
came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb; and the 
angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire 
out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and, behold, 
the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not con- 
sumed. Moses said: "I will turn aside, and see this 
great sight." 

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God 
called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said: 
"Moses, Moses." 

Then Moses said: "Here am I." 

God said: "Draw not nigh hither. Put off thy 
shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou stand- 
est is holy ground. I am the God of thy father, the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of 
Jacob." 

Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look on God. 

The Lord said: "I have seen the affliction of my 
people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry 
by reason of their taskmasters. I know their sorrows, 
and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand 
of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land 
unto a land flowing with milk and honey — unto the 
place of the Canaanite, and the Amorite, and the 
Hivite, and the Jebusite. Now, therefore, I will send 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 71 

thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My 
people out of Egypt." 

Moses said unto God: "Who am I that I should go 
unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children 
of Israel out of Egypt ? What shall I say unto them ?" 

God said unto Moses : " Go and gather the elders of 
Israel together, and say unto them: 'The Lord, the 
God of your fathers, has appeared unto me, saying: 
"I have seen that which is done to you, and I will 
bring you out of the affliction of Egypt unto a land 
flowing with milk and honey." They shall hearken to 
thy voice, and thou shalt come unto the king of Egypt 
and say unto him, ' Let us go, we beseech thee, three 
days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice 
to the Lord our God.' The king of Egypt will not give 
you leave to go; and I will stretch out My hand, and 
smite Egypt with all My wonders; and after that he 
will let you go." 

Moses answered and said: "But, behold, they will 
not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice." 

The Lord said unto him: "What is that in thine 
hand ?" 

Moses said: "A rod." 

God said: "Cast it on the ground." 

Moses cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; 
and Moses fled from before it. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Put forth thine hand 
and take it by the tail." 



72 The Narrative Bible 

Moses put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and 
it became a rod. 

The Lord said furthermore: "Put now thine hand 
into thy bosom." 

Moses put his hand into his bosom, and when he 
took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as 
snow. 

God said: "Put thine hand into thy bosom again." 

Moses put his hand into his bosom again, and when 
he took it out, it was turned as his other flesh. 

God said: "If they will not believe thee, neither 
hearken to the voice of the first sign, they will believe 
the voice of the latter sign." 

Moses said: "O Lord, I am slow of speech." 

The Lord said unto him: "Who hath made man's 
mouth ? or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, 
or blind ? Is it not I, the Lord ? Now therefore go, 
and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou 
shalt speak." 

Moses said: "O Lord, send, I pray thee, by him 
whom Thou wilt send." 

The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, 
and He said: "Aaron thy brother can speak well. 
Behold, he cometh to meet thee, and when he seeth 
thee he will be glad. Thou shalt speak unto him, 
and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with thy 
mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what 
ye shall do. He shall be thy spokesman unto the people; 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 73 

and thou shalt take in thine hand this rod, wherewith 
thou shalt do the signs." 

The Lord said to Aaron: "Go into the wilderness to 
meet Moses." 

He went, and met him in the mountain of God, and 
kissed him; and Moses told Aaron all the words of 
the Lord. 

Moses returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said : 
"Let me go, I pray thee, unto my brethren which are 
in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive." 

Jethro said to Moses: "Go in peace." 

So Moses took his wife and his sons to the land of 
Egypt; and Moses and Aaron went and gathered 
together all the elders of the children of Israel; and 
Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken 
unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 
The people believed, and when they heard that the 
Lord had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads 
and worshipped. 

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and told Pharaoh : 
"Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: 'Let my 
people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the 
wilderness.'" 

Pharaoh said: "Who is the Lord that I should 
obey His voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord, 
and moreover I will not let Israel go. Wherefore do ye, 
Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works ? 



74 The Narrative Bible 

Behold, the people are now many, and ye make them 
rest from their burdens." 

The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters 
of the people, saying: "Ye shall no more give the 
people straw* to make brick, as heretofore. Let them 
go and gather straw for themselves, and the tale of the 
bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall not 
diminish; for they be idle. Therefore they cry, saying: 
'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'" 

The taskmasters went out, and spake to the people, 
saying: "Thus saith Pharaoh: 'I will not give you 
straw. Go, get you straw where ye can find it. Nought 
of your work shall be diminished.' " 

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all 
the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw, and the 
taskmasters were urgent, saying: "Fulfil your daily 
tasks." 

The officers of the children of Israel that Pharaoh's 
taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, saying: 
"Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making 
bricks as heretofore?" 

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and 
cried unto Pharaoh, saying: "There is no straw given 
unto thy servants, and they say to us : ' Make brick;' and, 
behold, thy servants are beaten." 

But he said: "Ye are idle, ye are idle. Go and 
work; for there shall no straw be given you." 



*The bricks were sundried, and the straw was cut up and mixed 
with the clay to keep the bricks from cracking. 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 75 

The officers of the children of Israel met Moses and 
Aaron, as they came forth from Pharaoh, and Moses 
returned unto the Lord, and said: "Lord, wherefore 
hast Thou evil entreated this people ? Why is it that 
Thou hast sent me ?" 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Now shalt thou see 
what I will do to Pharaoh. Say unto the children of 
Israel: 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from 
under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will redeem 
you with a stretched out arm. I will take you to Me 
for a people, and I will be to you a God.' " 

Moses spake so unto the children of Israel; but they 
hearkened not for anguish of spirit, and for cruel 
bondage. 

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Speak unto 
Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of 
Israel go out of his land; and I will harden Pharaoh's 
heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the 
land of Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am 
the Lord." 

Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them; 
and Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron was four- 
score and three years old. They went in unto Pharaoh, 
and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and 
before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then 
Pharaoh called for the wise men and the sorcerers; 
and they, the magicians of Egypt, cast down every 



76 The Narrative Bible 

man his rod, and the rods became serpents. But 
Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 

Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened 
not unto Moses and Aaron; and the Lord said unto 
Moses : " Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning as he 
goeth out unto the water. Thou shalt stand by the 
river's brink to meet him; and the rod which was 
turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. 
Thou shalt say unto him: 'The Lord, the God of the 
Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying : '* Let My 
people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness. 
Hitherto thou hast not hearkened. In this thou shalt 
know that I am the Lord: behold, the waters in the 
river, shall be turned to blood; and the fish that are 
in the river shall die, and the river shall stink, and the 
Egyptians shall loathe to drink the water from the 
river." 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Say unto Aaron: 
'Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the 
waters of Egypt.' " 

Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded, and 
Aaron lifted up the rod and smote the water that was 
in the river, and the water turned to blood; and the 
fish that were in the river died, and the river stank, and 
the Egyptians could not drink water from the river. 
Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he turned and went 
into his house; and the Egyptians digged round about 
the river for water to drink. 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 77 

Seven days were fulfilled after the Lord had smitten 
the river; and the Lord spake unto Moses: "Go to 
Pharaoh, and say: 'Thus saith the Lord: "Let My 
people go that they may serve Me. If thou refuse to let 
them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. 
The river shall swarm with frogs, which shall come 
into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and on thy 
bed, and into the houses of thy servants, and into thine 
ovens, and into thy kneading troughs. The frogs shall 
come up both on thee and on thy people/' 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Say unto Aaron: 
' Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams 
and over the ponds.'" 

Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of 
Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land. 
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: 
"Entreat the Lord, that He take away the frogs, and I 
will let your people go." 

Moses said unto Pharaoh: "Be it according to thy 
word, that thou may est know there is none like unto 
the Lord our God; and the frogs shall depart from 
thee and from thy people. They shall remain in the 
river only." 

Moses and Aaron went out, and Moses cried unto 
the Lord concerning the frogs ; and the frogs died out of 
the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields; and 
the people gathered them together in heaps. But when 



78 The Narrative Bible 

Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his 
heart. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Rise up early in the 
morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him: 
* Thus saith the Lord : '■ Let My people go, that they 
may serve Me. Else, if thou wilt not let them go, 
behold, I will send swarms of flies on thee, and on thy 
servants, and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full 
of swarms of flies; and in the land of Goshen, in which 
My people dwell, no swarms of flies shall be there, to 
the end thou may est know that I am the Lord. By 
tomorrow shall this sign be." 

The Lord did so, and there came grievous swarms 
of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and in all Egypt the 
land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies. 

Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said: 
" Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the wilderness. Entreat 
for me." 

Moses said: "Behold, I will entreat the Lord that 
the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, and from 
his people ; but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more 
in not letting the people go." 

Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the 
Lord; and the Lord did according to the word of Moses. 
He removed the swarms of flies, and there remained 
not one. 

Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he 
did not let the people go. Then the Lord said unto 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 79 

Moses : " Go unto Pharaoh, and tell him : ' Thus saith 
the Lord : " Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 
If thou refuse, and wilt hold them still, behold, the 
hand of the Lord is on thy cattle which are in the field, 
on the horses, on the asses, on the camels, on the herds, 
and on the flocks. There shall be a very grievous 
murrain. Tomorrow the Lord shall do this thing." 

The Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the 
cattle of Egypt died ; but of the cattle of the children of 
Israel died not one. But the heart of Pharaoh was 
stubborn, and he did not let the people go. 

The Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron: "Take 
to you handfuls of ashes, and let Moses sprinkle 
them toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh; and the 
ashes shall become small dust over all the land of 
Egypt, and shall cause boils to break forth on man and 
on beast, throughout the land of Egypt." 

They took ashes, and stood before Pharaoh; and 
Moses sprinkled them up toward heaven, and they 
caused boils to break forth on man and on beast. 
The magicians could not stand before Moses because 
of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and 
on all the Egyptians ; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's 
heart, and he hearkened not. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Rise up early in the 
morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him: 
'Thus saith the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: "As 
yet exaltest thou thyself against My people that thou 



80 The Narrative Bible 

wilt not let them go ? Behold, tomorrow about this 
time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as 
hath not been in Egypt since the day it was founded. 
Now therefore, hasten in thy cattle and all that thou 
hast in the field ; for the hail shall come down on every 
man and beast not brought home, and they shall die." 

He that feared the word of the Lord among the 
servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle 
flee into the houses ; and he that regarded not the word 
of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. 
The Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran down 
into the earth; and the hail smote throughout Egypt 
all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the 
hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every 
tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where 
the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 

Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and 
said unto them: "I have sinned this time. The Lord 
is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Entreat 
the Lord; for there hath been enough of these mighty 
thunderings and hail; and I will let you go." 

Moses said unto him: "As soon as I am gone out 
of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the 
Lord. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be 
any more hail. But as for thee and thy servants, I 
know that ye will not fear the Lord God." 

Moses went out of the city, and spread abroad his 
hands unto the Lord; and the thunders and hail ceased. 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 81 

When Pharaoh saw that the hail and the thunders 
were ceased, he sinned yet more, and did not let the 
children of Israel go. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Go unto Pharaoh; for 
I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, 
that I might show these my signs in the midst of them, 
and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of 
thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, 
that ye may know I am the Lord." 

Moses and Aaron went unto Pharaoh, and said: 
"Thus saith the Lord: 'How long wilt thou refuse to 
humble thyself before Me? Behold, tomorrow will I 
bring locusts, and they shall cover the face of the earth, 
and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped 
from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth 
for you out of the field, and thy houses shall be filled.' " 

Moses turned, and went out from Pharaoh; and 
Pharaoh's servants said unto Pharaoh: "How long 
shall this man be a snare unto us ? Let the Hebrews 
go, that they may serve their God. Knowest thou not 
that Egypt is destroyed ?" 

Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh; 
and he said to them : " Go serve the Lord your God ; 
but who are they that shall go?" 

Moses said: "We will go with our young and with 
our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with 
our flocks and with our herds; for we must hold a 
feast unto the Lord." 



82 The Narrative Bible 

Pharaoh said: "Not so. Go ye that are men, and 
serve the Lord; for that is what ye desire;" and they 
were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. 

The Lord said unto Moses : " Stretch out thine hand 
for the locusts." 

Moses stretched forth his rod, and the Lord brought 
an east wind all that day, and all the night; and when 
it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. They 
covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land 
was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, 
and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. 
There remained not any green thing, either tree or herb 
of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, 
and he said: "I have sinned against the Lord your 
God, and against you. Now therefore forgive my sin 
only this once, and entreat the Lord your God." 

Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the 
Lord; and the Lord turned an exceeding strong west 
wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into 
the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all 
Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that 
he would not let the children of Israel go. 

The Lord said unto Moses : " Stretch out thine hand 
toward heaven that there may be darkness over the 
land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt." 

Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and 
there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 83 

three days. The people saw not one another, neither 
rose any from his place for three days; but all the 
children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 

Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said: " Go ye, serve 
the Lord; only let your flocks and herds be stayed. " 

Moses said: "Our cattle shall go with us; for 
thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God." 

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he 
would not let them go; and Pharaoh said unto Moses: 
" Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no 
more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die." 

Moses said: "Thou hast spoken well. I will see thy 
face no more." 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Yet one more plague 
will I bring on Pharaoh, and on Egypt. Afterward he 
will let you go. Speak now in the ears of the people, 
and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every 
woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels 
of gold." 

The children of Israel did according to the word of 
Moses, and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, 
and jewels of gold ; and the Lord gave the people favor 
in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have 
what they asked. 

The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying: 
"Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying: 
' In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them 
every man a lamb for a household; and if the house- 



84 The Narrative Bible 

hold be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his 
neighbor next unto his house take one. Your lamb 
shall ye keep until the fourteenth day of the month, and 
the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall 
kill it at even. They shall take of the blood and put 
it on the two side posts and lintel on the houses wherein 
they shall eat it. Ye shall eat the flesh that night, 
roast with fire, with your loins girded, your shoes 
on your feet, and your staff in your hand. It is the 
Lord's passover. For I will go through the land of 
Egypt in that night, and will smite all the firstborn in 
the land, both man and beast; and the blood shall be 
for a token on the houses where ye are. When I see 
the blood I will pass over you, and there shall no 
plague be on you to destroy you; and this day shall be 
unto you for a memorial. Ye shall keep it a feast to 
the Lord by an ordinance forever.' " 

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and 
said unto them: "Take you lambs according to your 
families, and kill the passover, and ye shall take a 
bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood, and strike the 
lintel and the two side posts with the blood; and none 
of you shall go out of the door of his house until the 
morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the 
Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood, the Lord 
will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer 
to come in." 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 85 

The people bowed the head and worshipped, and went 
and did as the Lord had commanded. 

It came to pass at midnight, that the Lord smote all 
the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of 
Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the 
captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn 
of cattle. Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all 
the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; 
for there was not a house where there was not one 
dead; and he called for Moses and Aaron, and said: 
"Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both 
ye and the children of Israel, and go serve the Lord as ye 
have said. Take your flocks and herds, and be gone." 

The children of Israel journeyed to Succoth, about 
six hundred thousand on foot that were men. A mixed 
multitude went also with them, and flocks and herds. 
God led them by the way of the wilderness by the Red 
Sea. The children of Israel went armed out of the 
land of Egypt; and Moses took the bones of Joseph 
with him; for Joseph had straitly sworn the children 
of Israel, saying: "God will surely visit you, and ye 
shall carry my bones away with you." 

The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of 
cloud, to lead the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, 
to give them light, that they might go by day and by 
night. 

The Lord spake unto Moses saying: "Speak unto 
the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp 



86 The Narrative Bible 

between Migdol and the sea; and Pharaoh will say: 
'They are entangled in the wilderness.' I will harden 
Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them, and 
I will get me honor on Pharaoh, and the Egyptians 
shall know that I am the Lord." 

The Israelites did so; and it was told the king of 
Egypt; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants 
was changed toward the people. They said: "What 
is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from 
serving us ?" 

Then Pharaoh made ready his chariot, and took 
his people with him, and all the chariots of Egypt. 
He pursued after the children of Israel, and overtook 
them encamping by the sea. When Pharaoh drew 
nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, 
behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they 
were sore afraid, and cried out unto the Lord; and 
they said to Moses: "Hast thou taken us away to die 
in the wilderness ? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with 
us ? Is not this the word we spake unto thee in Egypt, 
saying: 'Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyp- 
tians ? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, 
than that we should die in the wilderness.' ' 

Moses said unto the people: "Fear ye not, stand 
still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will 
work for you. The Egyptians whom ye have seen 
today, ye shall see again no more for ever. The Lord 
shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." 



Moses and the Plagues of Egypt 87 

The angel of God which went before the camp of 
Israel, removed and went behind them, and the pillar 
of cloud came between the camp of Egypt and the 
camp of Israel, so that the one came not near the other 
all the night. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Speak unto the chil- 
dren of Israel, that they go forward. Lift thou up thy 
rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide 
it; and the children of Israel shall go through the midst 
of the sea on dry ground." 

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the 
Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind, 
and made the sea dry land. The waters were divided; 
and the children of Israel went into the midst of the 
sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall unto 
them on the right hand, and on their left. 

The Egyptians pursued after them, all Pharaoh's 
chariots, and his horsemen; and it came to pass in the 
morning watch, that the Lord looked forth on the host 
of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of 
cloud, and discomfited them. He took off their chariot 
wheels, that they drave heavily; so that the Egyptians 
said: "Let us flee from Israel; for the Lord fighteth 
against the Egyptians. ,, 

The Lord said unto Moses : " Stretch out thine hand 

over the sea, that the waters may come on the Egyptians." 
Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the 

sea returned, and the waters covered the chariots, and 



88 The Narrative Bible 

the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh. There 
remained not so much as one of them. But the children 
of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. 
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day; and Israel saw 
the Egyptians dead on the sea shore; and the people 
feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord, and 
in His servant Moses. Then sang Moses and the chil- 
dren of Israel a song unto the Lord, and Miriam the 
sister of Aaron took a timbrel in her hand, and all the 
women went out after her with timbrels and with 
dances. 



VII 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 



MOSES led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and 
they went into the wilderness of Shur, three days, 
and found no water. When they came to Marah they 
could not drink of the waters, for they were bitter; and 
the people murmured against Moses, saying: "What 
shall we drink ?" 

He cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a 
tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were 
made sweet. 

The children of Israel came unto the wilderness of 
Sin; and the whole congregation murmured against 
Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them: "Would 
that we had died in the land of Egypt, when we sat by 
the flesh pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for 
ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill 
this whole assembly with hunger." 

Then said the Lord unto Moses: "Behold, I will 
rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go 
out and gather a portion every day; and it shall come 
to pass on the sixth day, that which they bring in shall 
be twice as much as they gather daily. I have heard 
the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak unto 



90 The Narrative Bible 

them saying: 'At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the 
morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall 
know that I am the Lord your God.'" 

It came to pass at even, that the quails came and 
covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay 
round about the camp; and when the dew was gone, 
behold, on the face of the wilderness a small round 
thing, small as the hoar frost on the ground. The 
children of Israel said one to another: "What is it?" 
for they wist not what it was. 

Moses said unto them : " This is the bread which the 
Lord hath given you to eat. Gather ye of it every man 
according to the number of persons that are in his 
tent." 

The children of Israel did so; and Moses said unto 
them: " Let no man leave of it till the morning." 

Notwithstanding some of them left of it until the 
morning, and it bred worms, and stank; and Moses 
was wroth with them. 

They gathered it morning by morning, every man 
according to his eating; and when the sun waxed hot, 
it melted. On the sixth day they gathered twice as 
much bread, and Moses said: "Tomorrow is a holy 
Sabbath unto the Lord. Bake that which ye will bake, 
and all that remaineth over lay up to be kept until 
the morning." 

They laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade, and 
it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 



The Ten Commandments 91 

Moses said: "Eat that today, for ye shall not find it 
in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the 
seventh day, which is the Sabbath, there shall be none." 

It came to pass that there went out some of the peo- 
ple on the seventh day for to gather, and they found 
none; and the Lord said unto Moses: "How long 
refuse ye to keep my commandments ? Let no man 
go out of his place on the seventh day." 

So the people rested on the seventh day. They 
called the name of the bread, "Manna;" and it was 
like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like 
wafers made with honey. They ground it in mills, or 
beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made 
cakes; and they did eat the manna forty years, until 
they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. 

The children of Israel journeyed and encamped in 
Rephidim. Then came Amalek to fight with Israel; 
and Moses said unto Joshua: "Choose out men and 
fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top 
of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand." 

Joshua did as Moses had said, and fought with 
Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the 
top of the hill. It came to pass when Moses held up 
his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when he let down 
his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses* hands were 
heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, 
and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his 
hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the 



92 The Narrative Bible 

other side, and his hands were steady until the going 
down of the sun; and Joshua discomfited Amalek and 
his people with the edge of the sword. 

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, 
heard of all that God had done for Israel; and Jethro 
came unto Moses into the wilderness where he was 
encamped, at the mount of God. Moses went out to 
meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed 
him. They asked each other of their welfare, and 
came into the tent; and Aaron came, and all the elders 
of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law. 

It came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to 
judge the people; and the people stood about Moses 
from the morning unto the evening. Moses' father-in- 
law said: "What is this thing that thou doest?" 

Moses said: "The people come unto me, and I 
judge between one and another, and I make them know 
the statutes of God." 

Moses' father-in-law said: "The thing that thou 
doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both 
thou, and this people that is with thee; for the thing 
is too heavy for thee. Thou art not able to perform 
it alone. Hearken now unto my voice. Provide out 
of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of 
truth, hating unjust gain, and place such to be rulers 
of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and 
rulers of tens. Let them judge the people, and every 
great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small 



The Ten Commandments 93 

matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be 
easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with 
thee/' 

Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law 
and chose able men out of all Israel, and made them 
rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, 
and rulers of tens; and they judged the people. The 
hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small 
matter they judged themselves. 

In the third month after the children of Israel were 
gone forth out of the land of Egypt, came they into the 
wilderness of Sinai; and there camped before the 
mount. Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called 
unto him out of the mountain, saying: "Thus shalt 
thou say to the house of Jacob: 'Ye have seen what I 
did unto the Egyptians, and how I brought you unto 
myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice, ye 
shall be unto me a holy nation.' Go unto the people, 
and let them wash their garments, and be ready against 
the third day; for the third day the Lord will come 
down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. 
Thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, 
saying: 'Take heed to yourselves that ye go not up 
into the mount, or touch the border of it. Whosoever 
toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death.'" 

Moses went down unto the people, and said: "Be 
ready against the third day." 



94 The Narrative Bible 

It came to pass on the third day in the morning, 
that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick 
cloud on the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceed- 
ing loud; and all the people trembled. Moses brought 
forth the people out of the camp to meet God, and they 
stood at the nether part of the mount; and Mount 
Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the Lord de- 
scended on it in fire, and the whole mount quaked 
greatly. 

When the trumpet sounded louder and louder, Moses 
spake, and God answered him, and God said: "I am 
the Lord thy God. 

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 
or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water 
under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself 
to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am 
a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on 
the children, unto the third and fourth generation of 
them that hate Me ; and showing mercy unto thousands 
of them that love Me and keep My commandments. 

" Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God 
in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that 
taketh His name in vain. 

"Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Six 
days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the 
seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In 



The Ten Commandments 95 

it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor 
thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, 
nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; 
for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, 
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. 
Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day, and 
hallowed it. 

"Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days 
may be long on the land which the Lord thy God 
giveth thee. 

"Thou shalt not kill. 

"Thou shalt not do anything which is immodest or 
unchaste.* 

"Thou shalt not steal. 

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
neighbor. 

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou 
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, 
nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any 
thing that is thy neighbor's." 

All the people saw the lightnings, and the mountain 
smoking; and they trembled, and stood afar off . They 
said unto Moses: "Speak thou with us, and we will 
hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." 

Moses said unto the people: "Fear not;" and he 
drew near to the thick darkness where God was. 



*This version of the seventh commandment is from an old catechism. 



96 The Narrative Bible 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Thus shalt thou say 
unto the children of Israel: 'Behold, I send an angel 
before thee to bring thee to the place which I have 
prepared. Take ye heed of him, and hearken unto his 
voice. Then will I be an enemy unto thine enemies, 
and an adversary unto thine adversaries. I will deliver 
the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and thou 
shalt drive them out.' " 

Moses came and told the people the words of the 
Lord, and the people with one voice said: "All the 
words which the Lord hath spoken will we do." 

Moses rose up early in the morning, and builded an 
altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according 
to the twelve tribes of Israel; and he sent young men 
who offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace 
offerings of oxen unto the Lord. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Come up to me into 
the mount, and I will give thee the law and the com- 
mandments, which I have written, that thou mayest 
teach them." 

Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister, and went 
up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount; 
and the glory of the Lord abode on Mount Sinai, and 
the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day God 
called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The 
appearance of the glory of the Lord was like devouring 
fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children 



The Ten Commandments 97 

of Israel. Moses entered into the cloud, and was in 
the mount forty days and forty nights. 

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Speak unto 
the children of Israel, that they make Me a sanctuary. 
They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits 
and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and 
a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the 
height thereof. Thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, 
within and without; and thou shalt cast four rings of 
gold for it, and two rings shall be on the one side, and 
two rings on the other side of it. Thou shalt make 
staves of acacia wood and put the staves into the rings, 
to bear the ark withal. Thou shalt put into the ark the 
testimony which I shall give thee; and thou shalt make 
a mercy-seat, and two cherubim of gold, one cherub 
at the one end, and one cherub at the other end of the 
mercy-seat. The cherubim shall spread out their 
wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, 
with their faces one to another; and thou shalt put the 
mercy-seat on the ark. I will commune with thee from 
above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim, 
of all things which I will give thee in commandment 
unto the children of Israel. 

" Thou shalt make a table of acacia wood ; and thou 
shalt make the dishes thereof, and the spoons, the 
flagons, and the bowls thereof of pure gold; and thou 
shalt set on the table showbread before Me always. 



98 The Narrative Bible 

"Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold, and 
there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof. 

"Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten 
curtains of fine linen, blue, purple, and scarlet; 
and thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair for a 
tent over the tabernacle. Thou shalt make a veil, and 
hang it on four pillars, and shalt bring within the veil 
the ark of the testimony; and the veil shall divide 
unto you the holy place and the most holy. Thou 
shalt set the table without the veil on the north side, 
and the candlestick over against the table on the side 
of the tabernacle toward the south. 

"Thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, five 
cubits long, and five cubits broad, and the height shall 
be three cubits, and thou shalt make the horns of it on 
the four corners thereof, and thou shalt overlay it with 
brass; and thou shalt make its pots, and its shovels, 
its basins, and its fleshhooks, and its firepans of brass. 

"Thou shalt command the children of Israel, that 
they bring unto thee pure olive oil to cause a lamp to 
burn continually. In the tent of meeting, Aaron and 
his sons shall minister unto me in the priest's office. 
Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, 
for glory and for beauty. 

" Thou shalt make an altar of acacia wood to burn 
incense on. A cubit shall be the length thereof, 
and a cubit the breadth thereof, and two cubits shall 
be the height thereof, and thou shalt overlay it with 



The Ten Commandments 99 

pure gold. Thou shalt put it before the veil that is by 
the ark of the testimony, and Aaron shall burn thereon 
incense of sweet spices every morning when he dresseth 
the lamps; and when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, 
he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the Lord 
throughout your generations. 

"Appoint thou the Levites over the tabernacle and 
all that belongeth to it. They shall bear the tabernacle 
and all the furniture thereof, and they shall minister 
unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle, 
and when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites 
shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be 
pitched, the Levites shall set it up." 

God gave unto Moses, when He had made an end 
of communing with him, two tables of stone written 
with the finger of God. 

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come 
down from the mount, they gathered themselves to- 
gether unto Aaron, and said: "Up, make us gods, 
which shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man 
that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not 
what is become of him." 

Aaron said unto them: "Break off the golden rings, 
which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and 
of your daughters, and bring them unto me." 

All the people brake off the golden rings which were 
in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. He 



100 The Narrative Bible 

received the rings, and made of them a molten calf; 
and the people said: "O Israel, this is thy god." 

Then Aaron built an altar before it, and made 
proclamation, and said: "Tomorrow shall be a feast 
to the Lord." 

They rose early on the morrow, and offered burnt 
offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people 
sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 

The Lord spake unto Moses : " Get thee down ; for 
thy people have corrupted themselves. They have 
turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded 
them. They have made a molten calf, and have wor- 
shipped it, and have sacrificed unto it. This is a stiff- 
necked people. Now therefore let Me alone, that My 
wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may con- 
sume them." 

Moses besought the Lord his God and said: "Lord, 
why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which 
Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with 
great power and with a mighty hand ? Wherefore 
should the Egyptians speak, saying: 'For evil did He 
bring them forth to slay them in the mountains, and to 
consume them from the face of the earth ?' Turn from 
Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy 
people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy 
servants, to whom Thou saidst: 'I will multiply your 
seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I 



The Ten Commandments 101 

have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they 
shall inherit it for ever.'" 

The Lord repented of the evil which He said He 
would do unto His people; and Moses turned, and went 
down from the mount, with the two tables of the testi- 
mony in his hands, tables that were written on both 
their sides, and the writing was the writing of God, 
graven on the tables. When Joshua heard the noise 
of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses: 
"There is a noise of war in the camp." 

Moses said: "It is not the voice of them that shout 
for mastery; neither is it the voice of them that cry for 
being overcome; but the noise of them that sing." 

It came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the 
camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and 
Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of 
his hands, and brake them; and he took the calf which 
they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it 
to powder, and strewed it on the water, and made the 
children of Israel drink of it. Then Moses stood in the 
gate of the camp, and said: "Whoso is on the Lord's 
side, let him come unto me." 

All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together 
unto him; and he said: "Thus saith the Lord: 'Put 
ye every man his sword on his thigh, and go to and fro 
from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every 
man his brother, and every man his companion, and 
every man his neighbor.'" 



102 The Narrative Bible 

The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses ; 
and there fell of the people that day about three thou- 
sand men. 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Hew two tables of 
stone like unto the first, and I will write on the tables 
the words that were on the tables which thou brakest. 
Come up unto Mount Sinai, and present thyself there 
to me on the top of the mount. No man shall come up 
with thee; neither let any man be seen throughout all 
the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before 
the mount." 

Moses hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, 
and went up unto Mount Sinai. The Lord descended 
in the cloud, and stood with him, and he was there 
with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He did 
neither eat bread, nor drink water; and God wrote on 
the tables the words of the ten commandments. 

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the 
two tables of the testimony, the skin of his face shone 
by reason of his speaking with God, and Aaron and all 
the children of Israel were afraid to come nigh him. 
Moses called unto them, and he gave them in com- 
mandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in 
Mount Sinai; and the people made the tabernacle, and 
the ark, and the altars, and all things as God had 
ordered; and Moses blessed them. 

Moses reared up the tabernacle, and put the testi- 
mony into the ark, and put the mercy-seat on the ark, 



The Ten Commandments 103 

and finished the work. Then the cloud covered the 
tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the 
tabernacle; and when the cloud was taken up from 
over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward ; 
but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed 
not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of 
the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was 
fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of 
Israel throughout all their journeys. 



VIII 

THE ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS 

IT came to pass in the second year, in the second 
month, that the cloud was taken up from off the 
tabernacle of the testimony. The children of Israel 
set forward out of the wilderness of Sinai, and the 
cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. 

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Send thou 
men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which 
I give unto the children of Israel. Of every tribe of 
their fathers shall ye send a man." 

Moses sent them according to the commandment of 
the Lord, and said unto them: " Go up into the moun- 
tains, and see the land, what it is; and the people that 
dwell therein, whether they be strong or weak, 
whether they be few or many. Be ye of good courage, 
and bring of the fruit of the land." 

So they went, and spied out the land, and they came 
unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down a branch with 
one cluster of grapes, and they bare it on a staff between 
two men. They brought also pomegranates, and figs. 
They returned from spying out the land at the end of 
forty days, and they came to Moses and to all the con- 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 105 

gregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness 
of Paran. 

They said: "We came unto the land whither we 
were sent, and surely it floweth with milk and honey, 
and this is the fruit of it. Howbeit, the people that 
dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fenced, 
and very great." 

Caleb, one of the twelve who had spied out the land, 
said : " Let us go at once and possess it; for we are well 
able to overcome it." 

But the men that went with him said: "We be not 
able to go against the people; for they are stronger 
than we. All the people that we saw are men of great 
stature, and we saw the sons of Anak, and we were as 
grasshoppers in their sight." 

The children of Israel murmured against Moses and 
against Aaron, and said unto them: "Would God that 
we had died in the land of Egypt! Wherefore hath the 
Lord brought us unto this land to fall by the sword ? Our 
wives and our little ones shall be a prey. Were it not 
better for us to return into Egypt?" 

The Lord said unto Moses: "How long will this 
people despise Me ? and how long will they not believe 
in Me, for all the signs which I have wrought among 
them ? I will smite them with the pestilence and dis- 
inherit them." 

Moses said unto the Lord : " I beseech Thee, let the 
power of the Lord be great, according as Thou hast 



106 The Narrative Bible 

spoken, saying: 'The Lord is slow to anger, and 
plentious in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.' 
Pardon, I pray Thee, this people." 

The Lord said: "I have pardoned according to thy 
word; but all those men who have not hearkened to 
My voice, surely they shall not see the land which I 
sware unto their fathers. How long shall I bear with 
this evil congregation? Say unto them: 'As I live,' 
saith the Lord, 'all twenty years old and upward shall 
not come into the land concerning which I lifted up 
My hand, save Caleb and Joshua. As for the rest of 
you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness." 

Korah, and Dathan, and Abiram, and On, rose up, 
with two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, 
and assembled together against Moses and against 
Aaron, and said unto them: "Ye take too much on 
you. All the congregation are holy, and the Lord is 
among them. Wherefore then lift ye up yourselves 
above the assembly of the Lord ?" 

Moses fell on his face, and he spake unto Korah, and 
unto all his company, saying: "In the morning the 
Lord will show who are His, and who is holy. This do; 
take you censers before the Lord tomorrow." 

They took every man his censer, and put fire in them, 
and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the 
tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron and all the 
congregation, and the glory of the Lord appeared. 
The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Speak unto the 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 107 

congregation, saying: 'Get you up from about the 
tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abu-am/ " 

Moses rose up, and he spake unto the congregation, 
saying: "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these 
wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be 
consumed in their sins. ,, 

So they gat them up from the tabernacle of Korah, 
Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan, and Abiram came 
out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their 
wives, and their sons, and their little ones. It came to 
pass that the ground clave asunder that was under 
them, and swallowed them up, and their households, 
and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all 
their goods. They went down alive into the pit, and 
the earth closed on them, and they perished miserably. 
All Israel that were round about fled at the cry of them ; 
and fire came down from the Lord, and consumed the 
two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. 

But on the morrow the children of Israel murmured 
against Moses and against Aaron, saying: "Ye have 
killed the people of the Lord." 

The Lord spake unto Moses saying: "Get you up 
from among this congregation, that I may consume 
them in a moment." 

Moses said unto Aaron: "Take thy censer, and put 
fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, 
and carry it quickly unto the congregation, and make 



108 The Narrative Bible 

atonement for them; for there is wrath gone out from 
the Lord. The plague is begun/' 

Aaron did as Moses commanded, and ran into the 
midst of the assembly; and, behold, the plague was 
begun, and he made atonement for the people. He 
stood between the dead and the living, and the plague 
was stayed. They that died by the plague were fourteen 
thousand and seven hundred. 

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Speak unto 
the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for 
each father's house, of all their princes, twelve rods. 
Write thou every man's name on his rod; and thou 
shalt write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi. Thou 
shalt lay them up in the tent where I meet with you. 
It shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, 
his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease the mur- 
murings of the children of Israel against you." 

Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and all 
their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, even 
twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their 
rods. Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the 
tent of the testimony. On the morrow Moses went 
into the tent, and, behold, the rod of Aaron put forth 
buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bare ripe almonds. 
Moses brought out the rods unto the children of Israel, 
and they looked, and took every man his rod. 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 109 

The Lord said unto Moses: "Put back the rod of 
Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token 
against the rebels." 

Moses did as the Lord commanded him. 

The children of Israel came into the wilderness of 
Zin and abode in Kadesh, and there was no water for 
the congregation, and they assembled together against 
Moses and against Aaron. The people strove with 
Moses, saying: "Wherefore have ye made us come out 
of Egypt, to bring us unto this evil place ? It is no place 
of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; 
neither is there any water to drink." 

Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the 
assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell 
on their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared 
unto them. The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: 
" Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, and 
speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give 
forth water. So thou shalt give the congregation and 
their cattle drink." 

Moses took the rod, and gathered the assembly to- 
gether before the rock, and he said unto them : " Hear 
now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of 
this rock ?" 

Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with 
his rod twice, and water came forth abundantly, and 
the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 



110 The Narrative Bible 

They journeyed from Kadesh unto Mount Hor; and 
the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying : " Take 
Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them unto 
Mount Hor; and put Aaron's garments on Eleazar 
his son, and Aaron shall die there." 

Moses did as the Lord commanded, and they went 
up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation ; 
and Moses put Aaron's garments on Eleazar, and 
Aaron died there on the top of the mount. 

Israel journeyed from Mount Hor, and the soul of 
the people was much discouraged because of the way. 
They spake against God, and against Moses; and the 
Lord sent fiery serpents, and they bit the people, and 
much people died. 

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said: "We 
have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord, 
and against thee. Pray unto the Lord, that He take 
away the serpents from us." 

Moses prayed for the people, and the Lord said unto 
Moses : " Make thee a serpent, and set it on a standard ; 
and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, 
when he looketh on it, shall live." 

Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the 
standard; and if a serpent had bitten any man, when 
he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 

The children of Israel journeyed, and sent mes- 
sengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying: "Let 
us pass through thy land. We will not turn aside into 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 111 

field, or into vineyard ; but we will go along by the king's 
highway, until we have passed thy border." 

Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through, but 
gathered all his people together and went out against 
Israel into the wilderness. He fought against Israel, 
and Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and 
possessed his land, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of 
the Amorites. 

Israel went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the 
king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his 
people. The Lord said unto Moses: "Fear him not; 
for I have delivered him into thy hand." 

So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, 
until there was none left alive, and they possessed his 
land. 

The children of Israel set forward, and pitched in 
the plains of Moab, and Moab was sore afraid of the 
people, because they were many. Moab said unto the 
elders of Midian: "Now shall this multitude lick up 
all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the 
grass of the field." 

Balak was king of Moab at that time, and he sent 
messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor to call him, 
saying: "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt. 
They cover the face of the earth. Come now therefore, 
I pray thee, curse me this people. Peradventure I shall 
prevail, that we may smite them, and drive them out of 



112 The Narrative Bible 

the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is 
blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." 

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian de- 
parted unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words 
of Balak. 

Balaam said: "Lodge here this night, and I will 
bring you word, as the Lord shall speak unto me." 

The princes of Moab abode with Balaam; and God 
came unto Balaam, and said: "What men are these 
with thee ?" 

Balaam said unto God: "Balak, king of Moab, 
hath sent unto me saying: 'Behold, the people that is 
come out of Egypt. Curse me them.' " 

God said unto Balaam: "Thou shalt not go with 
these men. Thou shalt not curse the people; for they 
are blessed." 

Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the 
princes of Balak: "Get you into your land; for the 
Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you." 

The princes of Moab went unto Balak, and said: 
"Balaam refuseth to come with us." 

Balak sent yet again more princes, and they came 
to Balaam, and said to him: "Thus saith Balak: 'Let 
nothing hinder thee from coming unto me; for I will 
promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do what- 
soever thou say est unto me. Come therefore, I pray 
thee, curse me this people.' " 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 113 

Balaam answered and said: "If Balak would give 
me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond 
the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 
Now therefore, tarry ye here this night, that I may 
know what the Lord will speak unto me." 

God came unto Balaam at night, and said " If the 
men be come to call thee, go with them; but only the 
word which I speak unto thee, that shall thou do." 

Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, 
and went with the princes of Moab. God's anger was 
kindled because he went; and the angel of the Lord 
placed himself in the way for an adversary against 
him. He was riding on his ass, and his two servants 
were with him; and the ass saw the angel of the Lord 
standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. 
The ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the 
field; and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the 
way. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a path 
between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, 
and a wall on that side. The ass saw the angel of the 
Lord, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed 
Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again. 
The angel of the Lord went farther, and stood in a 
narrow place, where there was no way to turn either 
to the right hand or to the left. The ass saw the angel 
of the Lord, and she lay down under Balaam; and 
Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass 
with his staff. 



114 The Narrative Bible 

The Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said 
unto Balaam: "What have I done unto thee, that 
thou hast smitten me these three times ?" 

Balaam said unto the ass: "Because thou hast 
mocked me. I would there were a sword in mine hand, 
for now would I kill thee." 

The ass said unto Balaam: "Am not I thine ass, on 
which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine until this 
day ? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee ?" 

He said: "Nay." 

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he 
saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with 
his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, 
and fell on his face. The angel of the Lord said unto 
him: "Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these 
three times ? Behold, I am come forth for an adversary, 
because thy way is perverse before me; and the ass 
saw me, and turned aside from me these three times. 
Unless she had turned aside before, surely I had slain 
thee." 

Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord: "I have 
sinned. I knew not that thou stoodest in the way. 
Now therefore, I will get me back." 

The angel of the Lord said unto Balaam : " Go with 
the men; but only the word that I speak unto thee, 
that shalt thou speak." 

So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. When 
Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 115 

meet him. It came to pass in the morning, that Balak 
took Balaam up into the high places of Baal, and he 
saw thence the utmost part of the people. Balaam 
said unto Balak: "Build me here seven altars, and 
prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams." 

Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and 
Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 
Balaam said unto Balak: "I will go. Peradventure 
the Lord will meet me; and whatsoever he showeth 
me I will tell thee." 

He went to a bare height, and God met Balaam, and 
put a message in Balaam's mouth. Balaam returned, 
and, lo, Balak stood by his burnt offering, he, and all 
the princes of Moab; and Balaam said: 

" How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed ? 
And how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not 

defied ? 
Who can count the children of Jacob 
Or number the fourth part of Israel ? 
Let me die the death of the righteous, 
And let my last end be like his." 
Balak said unto Balaam: "What hast thou done 
unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, 
behold, thou hast blessed them." 

Balaam answered and said: "Must I not take heed 

to speak that which the Lord putteth in my mouth ?" 

Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he 

smote his hands together, and said: "I thought to 



116 The Narrative Bible 

promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, the Lord hath 
kept thee back from honor." 

Balaam said unto Balak: "Spake I not to thy 
messengers thou sentest unto me, saying: 'If Balak 
would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can- 
not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good 
or bad of mine own mind ? What the Lord saith 
that will I speak. Now, behold, I go unto my people. " 

Balaam returned to his place; and Balak also went 
his way. 

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Avenge the 
children of Israel of the Midianites." 

Moses spake unto the people, saying: "Arm ye 
men from among you, that they may go against Midian, 
to execute the Lord's vengeance. Of every tribe a thou- 
sand shall ye send to the war." 

So there were delivered twelve thousand armed for 
war; and Moses sent them, and Phinehas the son of 
Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the 
sanctuary and the trumpets to blow in his hand. They 
warred against Midian, and they slew every male, 
and they slew the kings of Midian. Balaam also they 
slew with the sword. The children of Israel took 
captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and 
all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, 
they took for a prey. All their cities, and all their 
encampments, they burnt with fire; and they brought 
the captives, and the spoil, unto the camp by the Jordan. 



The Israelites in the Wilderness 117 

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad 
had a very great multitude of cattle; and when they saw 
the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that the place 
was a place for cattle, they spake unto Moses, and to 
Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congre- 
gation, saying: "If we have found grace in thy sight, 
let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession. 
Bring us not over Jordan." 

Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the 
children of Reuben: "Shall your brethren go to the 
war, and shall ye sit here ? Wherefore discourage ye the 
heart of the children of Israel from going over into the 
land which the Lord hath given them?" 

They said: "We will build sheepfolds here for our 
cattle, and cities for our little ones; but we ourselves 
will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, 
until we have brought them unto their place. We will 
not return to our houses, until the children of Israel 
have inherited every man his inheritance." 

Moses said unto them: "If ye will arm yourselves, 
and every armed man of you will pass over Jordan 
before the Lord, until He hath driven out His enemies, 
and the land be subdued; then afterward ye shall 
return, and this land shall be your possession." 

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: "Get thee up 
unto Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that 
is over against Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan, 



118 The Narrative Bible 

which I give unto the children of Israel; and die in 
the mount, and be gathered unto thy people.'* 

Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto Mount 
Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, and the Lord showed him 
all the land. The Lord said: "This is the land which 
I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, 
saying: 'I will give it unto thy seed.' I have caused 
thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over 
thither." 

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land 
of Moab, and God buried him; but no man knoweth 
of his sepulchre unto this day. Moses was a hundred 
and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not 
dim, nor his natural force abated; and the children of 
Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty 
days. Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of 
wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the 
children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the 
Lord commanded Moses. There hath not arisen since 
in Israel a prophet like unto Moses, whom the Lord 
knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, 
which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, 
and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the 
sight of all Israel. 



IX 



GOD S PEOPLE ENTER THE PROMISED LAND 

IT came to pass after the death of Moses, that the Lord 
spake unto Joshua, saying: "Arise, go over this 
Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which 
I do give to them. Every place that the sole of your 
foot shall tread on, to you have I given it. From the 
wilderness, even unto the great river Euphrates, and 
unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, 
shall be your border. There shall not any man be able 
to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was 
with Moses, so I will be with thee. I will not fail thee, 
nor forsake thee. Thou shalt cause this people to 
inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to 
give them. Only be strong and courageous, to observe 
all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee. 
Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that 
thou may est prosper whithersoever thou goest." 

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 
saying: "Pass through the midst of the camp, and 
command the people, saying: 'Prepare you victuals; 
for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to 
possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you." 



120 The Narrative Bible 

To the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the 
half tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying : " Your 
wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in 
the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; 
but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed, all the 
mighty men of valor, and shall help them, until the 
Lord hath given them rest.'* 

They answered Joshua, saying: "All that thou hast 
commanded us we will do." 

Joshua sent out two men as spies, saying: "Go 
view the land, and Jericho." 

They went, and came into the house of a woman 
whose name was Rahab. It was told the king of 
Jericho, saying: "Behold, there came men in hither 
tonight of the children of Israel to search out the land." 

The king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying: " Bring 
forth the men who are entered into thine house." 

The woman took the two men, and hid them, and she 
said: "Yea, the men came unto me, but I wist not 
whence they were; and about the time of the shutting 
of the gate, when it was dark, the men went out. Whither 
they went I wot not. Pursue after them quickly ; for 
ye shall overtake them." 

But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid 
them with stalks of flax. The men of Jericho pursued 
after them to Jordan unto the fords; and as soon as 
they which pursued were gone, Rahab came up unto 
the men on the roof, and she said: "I know that the 



God's People Enter the Promised Land 121 

Lord hath given you the land, and that the fear of you 
is fallen on us. We have heard how the Lord dried 
up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came 
out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of 
the Amorites, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 
As soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, 
neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, 
because of you; for the Lord your God is God in 
heaven above, and on earth beneath. Now therefore, 
I pray you, swear unto me, since I have dealt kindly 
with you, that ye will deal kindly with my father's 
house. Give me a token, that ye will save alive my 
father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my 
sisters." 

The men said unto her: "If ye utter not this our 
business, when the Lord giveth us the land, we will 
deal kindly and truly with thee." 

Then she let them down by a cord through the 
window; for her house was on the town wall, and she 
said unto them: "Get you to the mountain, lest the 
pursuers light on you; and hide yourselves there three 
days, until the pursuers be returned. Afterward go 
your way." 

The men said unto her: "Behold, when we come 
into the land, thou shalt bind in the window this line 
of scarlet cord which thou didst let us down by; and 
thou shalt gather unto thee into the house thy father, 
and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's 



122 The Narrative Bible 

household. Whosoever shall be with thee in the house, 
his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be on him." 

She said: "According unto your words, so be it." 

They departed, and she bound the scarlet line in 
the window. They went unto the mountain, and abode 
there three days, and the pursuers sought them through- 
out all the way, but found them not. Then the two men 
descended from the mountain, and came to Joshua; 
and they told him all that had befallen them. 

Joshua rose early in the morning, and came to 
Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. After three 
days, Joshua said unto the people: "Sanctify your- 
selves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among 
you. Hereby ye shall know that the living God is 
among you, and that He will without fail drive out 
from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and 
the Perizzite, and the Jebusite. Behold, the ark of 
the covenant passeth over before you, and when the 
soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark shall 
rest in the waters of Jordan, the waters shall be cut off, 
even the waters that come down from above; and they 
shall stand in a heap." 

The people removed from their tents, and when they 
that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet 
of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the 
brink of the water, the waters which came down from 
above rose up in a heap, a great way off. The priests 



God's People Enter the Promised Land 123 

that bare the ark stood firm on dry ground in the midst 
of Jordan, and all Israel passed over on dry ground. 

The Lord spake unto Joshua, saying: "Take you 
twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 
and command ye them, saying: 'Take you out of the 
midst of Jordan, where the priests' feet stood firm, 
twelve stones, and carry them with you, and lay them 
down in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this 
night.' " 

Then Joshua called out of every tribe a man, and 
they took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, 
and carried them unto the place where they lodged. 
On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of 
Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all 
the days of his life. 

When the priests that bare the ark were come up 
out of Jordan, the waters returned, and flowed as they 
did before. The people encamped in Gilgal, on the 
east border of Jericho ; and those twelve stones, which 
they took out of Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal; 
and he spake unto the children of Israel, saying : " When 
your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, 
saying : ' What mean these stones ?' then shall ye let 
your children know, saying : ' Israel came over Jordan 
on dry land. For the Lord your God dried up the 
waters from before you, until ye were gone over, that all 
the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the 
Lord, that it is mighty.'" 



124 The Narrative Bible 

The children of Israel kept the passover in the plains 
of Jericho, and they did eat of the produce of the land 
on the morrow. The manna ceased on the morrow, 
after they had eaten of the produce of the land. Neither 
had the children of Israel manna any more; but they 
did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan. 

It came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that 
he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood 
a man over against him with his sword in his hand; 
and Joshua went unto him, and said: "Art thou for 
us, or for our adversaries ?" 

He said : " As captain of the host of the Lord am I 
come." 

Joshua fell on his face to|the*earth, and did worship, 
and the captain of the Lord's host said: "Put off thy 
shoes, for the place whereon thou standest is holy." 

Joshua did so, and the Lord said: "I have given 
into thine hand Jericho. Ye shall compass the city, 
all the men of war going about the city once. Thus 
shalt thou do six days; and seven priests shall bear 
seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. The 
seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and 
the priests shall blow with the trumpets. When they 
make a long blast with the ram's horn, all the people 
shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city 
shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every 
man straight before him." 



God's People Enter the Promised Land 125 

Joshua called the priests, and said unto them : " Take 
up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear 
seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the 
Lord." 

He said unto the people: "Pass on, and compass 
the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark 
of the Lord. Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be 
heard, until the day I bid you shout." 

So he caused the ark of the Lord to compass the 
city, going about it once; and they came into camp 
and lodged. Joshua rose early in the morning, and the 
priests took up the ark; and the seven priests bearing 
the seven trumpets went on continually, and blew with 
the trumpets; and the armed men went before them. 
The second day they compassed the city once, and 
returned into the camp. So they did six days. 

It came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose about 
the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after 
the same manner seven times. At the seventh time, 
when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said 
unto the people: "Shout; for the Lord hath given 
you the city." 

So the people shouted with a great shout, and the 
wall fell flat. The people went into the city, every 
man straight before him, and they took the city. They 
utterly destroyed all that was in the city, except in the 
house of Rahab, both man and woman, young 



126 ThelNarrative Bible 



al- 



and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of 
the sword. They burnt the city with fire, and all that 
was therein; only the silver and the gold, and the 
vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury 
of the Lord. But Rahab, and her father's household, 
and all that she had, did Joshua save; and she 
dwelt in the midst of Israel, because she hid the mes- 
sengers, that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. So the 
Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land. 
When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua 
had done unto Jericho, they did work wilily, and made 
as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks 
on their asses, and wine-skins, old and rent and bound 
up; and old shoes on their feet, and old garments on 
them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and 
was become mouldy. They went to Joshua, unto the 
camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of 
Israel: "Make ye a convenant with us." 

Joshua said unto them: "Whence come ye?" 
They said unto him: "From a very far country thy 
servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy 
God; for we have heard the fame of Him, and all that 
He did in Egypt, and all that He did to Sihon king of 
Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan. Our elders and 
all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying: 
* Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to 
meet them, and say unto them : " We are your servants ; 
therefore make ye a covenant with us." This our 



God's People Enter the Promised Land 127 

bread we took hot out of our houses on the day 
we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is 
dry, and is become mouldy; and these wine-skins, 
which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent; 
and these our garments and our shoes are become old 
by reason of the very long journey." 

Joshua made a covenant with them, to let them live: 
and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. 
It came to pass at the end of three days, that they heard 
they were neighbors. The children of Israel journeyed, 
and came unto their cities, and smote them not, because 
the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them 
by the God of Israel. Joshua called for them, and he 
spake unto them, saying: "Wherefore have ye be- 
guiled us, saying: 'We are very far from you;' when 
ye dwell among us ?" 

They answered: "Because it was told thy servants, 
how that the Lord thy God commanded Moses to give 
you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of 
the land from before you. Therefore we were sore 
afraid for our lives, and have done this thing. Now, 
behold, we are in thine hand. As it seemeth good and 
right unto thee to do unto us, do." 

So Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers 
of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the 
Lord. 

It came to pass, when Adoni-zedec the Amorite king 
of Jerusalem heard how the inhabitants of Gibeon had 



128 The Narrative Bible 

made peace withlsrael, he feared greatly, because Gibeon 
was a great city, and all the men thereof were mighty. 
Wherefore Adoni-zedec sent unto four other kings of 
the Amorites, saying: "Come unto me, and help me, 
and let us smite Gibeon; for it hath made peace with 
the children of Israel." 

The five kings of the Amorites gathered themselves 
together, and they and all their hosts encamped before 
Gibeon, and made war against it. 

The men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, saying : " Slack 
not thy hand from thy servants. Come to us quickly, 
and save us; for all the kings of the Amorites that 
dwell in the hill country are gathered together against 
us." 

So Joshua went from Gilgal, and all the people of 
war with him; and the Lord said unto Joshua: "Fear 
them not; for I have delivered them into thine hand. 
There shall not a man of them stand before thee." 

Joshua came on them suddenly, and the Lord dis- 
comfited them before Israel, and slew them with a 
great slaughter. It came to pass, as they fled, that the 
Lord cast down great stones from heaven on them, and 
more died with the hailstones than they whom the 
children of Israel slew with the sword. 

Then spake Joshua to the Lord, and he said in the 
sight of Israel: 

"Sun, stand thou still on Gibeon; 

And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon." 



God's People Enter the Promised Land 129 

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, 

Until the people had avenged themselves on their 
enemies. 

The sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and hasted 
not to go down about a whole day; and there was no 
day like that before or after it. 

The five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave 
at Makkedah; and Joshua said: "Roll great stones 
unto the mouth of the cave, and set men by for to keep 
it; but stay not ye. Pursue after your enemies." 

When Joshua and the children of Israel had made 
an end of slaying them, and the remnant which re- 
mained had entered into the fenced cities, all the people 
returned to the camp at Makkedah. Then said Joshua: 
" Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those 
five kings unto me." 

They did so, and Joshua put the kings to death, and 
hanged them on iive trees; and they were hanging on 
the trees until the evening. At the time of the going 
down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took 
them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave 
wherein they had hidden themselves. 

Joshua made war a long time. There was not a city 
that made peace with the children of Israel, save Gibeon. 
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to come 
against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy 
them. So Joshua took the whole land, and gave it for 



130 The Narrative Bible 

an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions 
by tribes; and the land had rest from war. 

It came to pass after many days, that Joshua called 
for all Israel, for their elders, and for their judges and 
for their officers, and said unto them: "I am old and 
well stricken in years; and ye have seen all that the 
Lord your God hath done. Behold, I have allotted 
unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance 
for your tribes, from Jordan even unto the great sea 
toward the going down of the sun. The Lord your 
God shall expel them from before you, and drive them 
out of your sight. One man of you shall chase a 
thousand; for the Lord your God fighteth for you. 
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the 
Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise cleave unto 
the remnant of these nations, and make marriages 
with them, the Lord your God will no more drive these 
nations from before you ; but they shall be a snare unto 
you, and a scourge, until ye perish from off this good 
land which the Lord your God hath given you. Behold, 
I am going the way of all the earth, and ye know in 
your hearts, that not one thing hath failed of all the 
good things which the Lord your God spake concerning 
you." 

The people said unto Joshua: "The Lord our God 
will we serve, and His voice will we obey." 

After these things, Joshua, the servant of the Lord, 
died, being a hundred and ten years old ; and they buried 



God's People Enter the Promised Land 131 

him. Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, 
and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and 
had known all the work of the Lord, that He had 
wrought for Israel. 



X 



THE JUDGES 



IT came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the 
children of Israel forsook the God of their fathers 

who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and fol- 
lowed the gods of the peoples that were round about 
them. The anger of the Lord was kindled against 
Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers 
that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of 
their enemies. Whithersoever they went, the hand of 
the Lord was against them, and they were greatly dis- 
tressed. When the children of Israel cried unto the 
Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer, who saved them, 
even Othniel. The spirit of the Lord came on him, 
and he judged Israel, and the land had rest forty years. 
Othniel died, and the children of Israel again did 
that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the 
Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against 
Israel. Eglon smote Israel, and the children of Israel 
served the king of Moab eighteen years. But when they 
cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, 
Ehud, a Benjamite. The children of Israel sent a 
present by him unto Eglon the king of Moab, and 
Ehud made a sword which had two edges, and he 



The Judges 133 

girded it under his raiment. When he had made an 
end of offering the present, he said: "I have a secret 
errand unto thee, O king." 

The king said: "Keep silence." 

All that stood by went out except Ehud. The king 
was sitting in his summer parlor; and Ehud said: 
"I have a message from God unto thee." 

The king arose, and Ehud took the sword, and slew 
him. Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut 
the doors of the parlor, and locked them. When he was 
gone, the king's servants came, and they saw the doors 
of the parlor were locked, and they tarried till they 
were ashamed. The king opened not the doors. There- 
fore they took a key, and opened them; and, behold, 
their lord was fallen down dead. 

Ehud escaped while they tarried, and it came to pass 
that he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, 
and the children of Israel went down with him, and 
took the fords of Jordan. They slew of Moab about 
ten thousand men. So Moab was subdued that day, 
and the land had rest fourscore years. 

The children of Israel again did that which was evil 
in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead; and 
the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of 
Canaan. Twenty years he mightily oppressed the 
children of Israel. Deborah, a prophetess, judged 
Israel at that time. She sent and called Barak the 
son of Abinoam, and said unto him: " Go unto Mount 



134 The Narrative Bible 

Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men, and I 
will draw unto thee Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, 
with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver 
him into thine hand." 

Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh, and 
Barak called together ten thousand men. Sisera 
gathered all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots 
of iron, and all the people that were with him, and 
Deborah said unto Barak: "Up; for this is the day in 
which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand." 

So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten 
thousand men after him; and the Lord discomfited 
Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, before 
Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and 
fled away on his feet. Barak pursued after the chariots, 
and after the host; and all the host of Sisera fell by the 
edge of the sword. There was not a man left. How- 
beit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the 
wife of Heber the Kenite, who had pitched a tent by 
Kedesh. Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto 
him: "Turn in, my lord, turn in to me. Fear not." 

He turned in unto her into the tent, and she covered 
him with a rug. He said unto her: "Give me, I pray 
thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty." 

She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink. 
He said : " Stand in the door of the tent, and when any 
man doth come, and say : ' Is there any man here ?' thou 
shalt say: 'No.'" 



The Judges 135 

While Sisera was in a deep sleep, Jael took a tent-pin 
and a hammer, and went softly unto him, and smote 
the pin into his temples. So he died. As Barak pursued 
Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said : " Come, 
and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest." 

He came unto her, and, behold, Sisera lay dead. 

So God subdued the king of Canaan before the chil- 
dren of Israel, and the land had rest forty years. 

The children of Israel did that which was evil in the 
sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into 
the hand of Midian, and they made dens in the moun- 
tains, and caves, and strongholds. When Israel had 
sown, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the 
children of the east came against them, and destroyed 
the increase of the earth, and left no sustenance in 
Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came 
as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels 
were without number; and they came into the land to 
destroy it. Israel was greatly impoverished because of 
Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. 

The angel of the Lord came, and sat under an oak 
in Ophrah, and Gideon the son of Joash was beating 
out wheat. The angel of the Lord appeared unto him 
and said: "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man 
of valor." 

Gideon said: "If the Lord be with us, why then is 
all this befallen us ? and where be all his wondrous 
works which our fathers told us of ?" 



136 The Narrative Bible 

The Lord looked on him, and said: "Go and save 
Israel from the hand of Midian." 

Gideon said: " O Lord, wherewith shall I save 
Israel ? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, 
and I am the least in my father's house." 

The Lord said unto him: "Surely I will be with 
thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites." 

Gideon said: "If now I have found grace in thy 
sight, then show me a sign." 

Gideon went in and made ready a kid and unleavened 
cakes. The flesh he put in a basket, and he put the 
broth in a pot, and brought it out under the oak. 

The angel of God said: "Take the flesh and the 
unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour 
out the broth." 

Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord put forth 
the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched 
the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and there went up 
fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the 
unleavened cakes; and the angel of the Lord departed. 

All the Midianites and the Amalekites and the chil- 
dren of the east assembled themselves together, and 
they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel. 
The spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a 
trumpet, and sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, 
and unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; 
and they came to meet him. 



The Judges 137 

Gideon said unto God : " If Thou wilt save Israel by 
mine hand, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the 
threshing-floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and 
it be dry on all the ground, then shall I know that Thou 
wilt save Israel by mine hand." 

He rose early on the morrow, and pressed the fleece 
together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a 
bowlful of water. 

The Lord said unto Gideon: "The people that are 
with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites 
into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves, saying: 
'Mine own hand hath saved me.' Now therefore, 
proclaim in the ears of the people, saying: 'Whosoever 
is fearful and trembling, let him return." 

There returned twenty and two thousand ; and there 
remained ten thousand. 

The Lord said unto Gideon: "The people are yet 
too many. Bring them down unto the water, and I 
will try them there." 

So Gideon brought down the people unto the water, 
and the Lord said: "Everyone that lappeth of the 
water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou 
set by himself. Likewise everyone that boweth down 
on his knees to drink." 

The number of them that lapped, putting their hand 
to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the 
rest of the people bowed down on their knees to drink. 



138 The Narrative Bible 

The Lord said unto Gideon : " By the three hundred 
men that lapped will I deliver the Midianites into thine 
hand." 

So Gideon sent all the rest of Israel every man unto 
his tent, but retained the three hundred men; and the 
camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 

It came to pass the same night, that the Lord said 
unto Gideon : " Arise, get thee down against the camp . 
But if thou fear, go thou with Phurah thy servant to the 
camp, and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward 
shall thine hands be strengthened." 

Then Gideon went with Phurah his servant unto the 
outermost part of the camp; and, behold, a man told a 
dream unto his fellow, and said: "I dreamed, and, lo, 
a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, 
and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and 
turned it upside down." 

His fellow said: "This is nothing else save the 
sword of Gideon, a man of Israel. Into his hand God 
hath delivered Midian." 

When Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the 
interpretation thereof, he worshipped; and he returned 
into the camp of Israel, and said : " Arise, for the Lord 
hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian." 

He divided the three hundred men into three com- 
panies, and he put into the hands of all of them trum- 
pets, and empty pitchers, with torches in the pitchers. 
He said unto them: "Look on me, and do likewise; 



The Judges 139 

and when I come to the outermost part of the camp and 
blow the trumpet, then blow ye the trumpets on every 
side of the camp, and say: 'The sword of the Lord and 
of Gideon.' " 

So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with 
him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the 
beginning of the middle watch; and they blew the 
trumpets, and brake in pieces the pitchers, and held 
the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their 
right hands to blow withal, and they cried: "The 
sword of the Lord and of Gideon." 

They stood every man in his place round about the 
camp, and all the host ran, and the Lord set every 
man's sword against his fellow. The men of Israel 
pursued after Midian, and there fell a hundred and 
twenty thousand men. So Midian was subdued, and 
the land had rest forty years. 

It came to pass, when Gideon was dead, that Abim- 
elech his son was prince over Israel; and after Abim- 
elech there arose Tola, a man of Issachar; and after 
him Jair, the Gileadite. Jair died, and the children of 
Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of the 
Lord, and the Lord sold them into the hand of the 
Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon, 
who vexed and oppressed them eighteen years. The 
children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying: "We 
have sinned against Thee." 



140 The Narrative Bible 

The Lord said : " Ye have forsaken Me, and served 
other gods; wherefore I will save you no more. Go 
and cry unto the gods ye have chosen. Let them save 
you in the time of your tribulation." 

The children of Israel said unto the Lord : " We have 
sinned. Do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good 
unto Thee; only deliver us, we pray Thee." 

They put away the strange gods from among them, 
and served the Lord, and His soul was grieved for the 
misery of Israel. 

The children of Ammon were gathered together, and 
encamped in Gilead; and the children of Israel assem- 
bled themselves, and encamped in Mizpeh. Now 
Jepthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and 
the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jepthah, and they 
said : " Come and be our chief, that we may fight with 
the children of Ammon." 

Then Jepthah went, and the people made him chief 
over them. He fought against the children of Ammon, 
and the Lord delivered them into his hand. Jepthah 
smote them with a very great slaughter; and Jepthah 
judged Israel six years. 

After him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel; and 
after him Elon the Zebulunite; and after him Abdon 
the son of Hillel. 

The children of Israel again did that which was evil 
in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them 
into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 



The Judges 141 

There was a certain man of the Danites, whose name 
was Manoah; and the angel of the Lord appeared 
unto his wife, and said: "Behold, thou shalt have a 
son. No razor shall come on his head; for he shall 
be a Nazarite* unto God, and he shall save Israel out 
of the hand of the Philistines." 

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying: 
"A man of God came unto me, and his countenance 
was like the countenance of an angel of God, very 
terrible. He said : ' Thou shalt have a son, and the child 
shall be a Nazarite unto God from the day of his birth 
to the day of his death.' " 

The woman had a son, and called his name Samson ; 
and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. 

Samson went to Timnath, and he came, and told his 
father and his mother: " I have seen a woman in Timnath 
of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get 
her for me to wife." 

His father and his mother said: "Is there never a 
woman among all our people, that thou goest to take a 
wife of the Philistines ? " 

Samson said unto his father: "Get her for me; for 
she pleaseth me well." 

Then went Samson, and his father and his mother, 
and came to the vineyards of Timnath, and, behold, a 
young lion roared against Samson. The spirit of the 



*One whose life is consecrated to God. A Nazarite drank no 
wine or other spirituous liquor, and refrained from eating grapes. 



142 The Narrative Bible 

Lord came mightily on him, and he rent the lion as he 
would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand. 
He went and talked with the woman. After a time 
he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see 
the carcass of the lion. Behold, there was a swarm of 
bees in the body, and honey. He took the honey 
into his hands, and went on, eating as he went, and he 
came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, 
and they did eat; but he told them not that he had taken 
the honey out of the body of the lion. 

His father went unto the woman, and Samson made 
there a feast. They brought thirty companions to be 
with him; and Samson said unto them: "Let me now 
put forth a riddle unto you. If ye can declare it within 
the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty 
linen garments and thirty changes of raiment; but if 
ye cannot declare it, then shall ye give me thirty linen 
garments and thirty changes of raiment." 

They said unto him: "Put forth thy riddle, that we 
may hear it." 

He said : 

" Out of the eater came forth meat, 
And out of the strong came forth sweetness." 

They could not declare the riddle; and they said to 
Samson's wife: "Entice thy husband, that he may 
declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy 
father's house with fire." 



The Judges 143 

Samson's wife wept before him, and said: "Thou 
dost hate me, and lovest me not. Thou hast put forth 
a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not 
told it me." 

He said unto her: "Behold, I have not told it to my 
father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee ? " 

She wept before him the seven days, while their feast 
lasted; and it came to pass on the seventh day, that 
he told her, because she pressed him sore; and she told 
the riddle to her people. The men of the city said unto 
him on the seventh day before the sun went down: 
"What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger 
than a lion ? " 

The spirit of the Lord came mightily on him, and 
he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men, and 
took their apparel, and gave the changes of raiment 
unto them that declared the riddle. His anger was 
kindled, and he went to his father's house. 

It came to pass after a while, in the time of wheat 
harvest, that Samson visited his wife; but her father 
would not suffer him to go in, and said: "I verily 
thought that thou utterly hated her. Therefore I 
gave her to thy companion. Is not her younger sister 
fairer than she ? Take her, I pray thee, instead." 

Samson said: "This time shall I be blameless in 
regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief." 

Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and 
took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a fire- 



144 The Narrative Bible 

brand in the midst between every two tails. When he 
had set the brands on fire, he let the foxes go into the 
wheat of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks 
and the standing corn, and also the oliveyards. Then 
the Philistines said : " Who hath done this ? " 

They answered : " Samson, because his father-in-law 
hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion." 

The Philistines came, and burnt her and her father 
with fire; and Samson said unto them: "Surely I 
will be avenged of you." 

He smote them with a great slaughter, and he went 
and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam. Then the 
Philistines went, and encamped in Judah, and the men 
of Judah said : " Why are ye come against us ? " 

They said: "To bind Samson are we come, to do 
to him as he hath done to us." 

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the cleft 
of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson: "Knowest 
thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us ? What 
then is this that thou hast done ? " 

He said : " As they did unto me, so have I done unto 
them." 

They said unto him: "We come to bind thee, that 
we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines." 

Samson said: "Swear unto me, that ye will not fall 
on me yourselves." 

They spake, saying: "We will bind thee fast, and 
deliver thee into their hand; but we will not kill thee." 



The Judges 145 

They bound him with two ropes, and brought him 
from the rock. The Philistines shouted as they 
met him; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily 
on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became 
as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped 
from off his hands. He found a jawbone of an ass, 
and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith. 

Samson went to Gaza, and entered into a house, 
and it was told the Gazites, saying: "Samson is come 
hither." 

They compassed him in, and laid wait for him all 
night in the gate of the city, saying: "Let be till morn- 
ing light. Then we will kill him." 

Samson lay till midnight, and arose, and laid hold 
of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, 
and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on 
his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the 
mountain that is before Hebron. 

It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman 
in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah; and 
the lords of the Philistines came, and said unto her: 
"Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, 
and by what means we may prevail against him, that 
we may bind him to humble him; and we will give thee 
every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver." 

Delilah said to Samson: "Tell me, I pray thee, 
wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou 
mightest be^bound." 



146 The Narrative Bible 

Samson said unto her : " If they bind me with seven 
green withes that were never dried, then shall I become 
weak, and be as another man." 

The lords of the Philistines brought to her seven 
green withes which had not been dried, and she bound 
him with them. She had Hers in wait abiding in the 
inner chamber; and she said unto him: "The Philis- 
tines be upon thee, Samson." 

He brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken 
when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not 
known. Delilah said unto Samson: "Behold, thou 
hast mocked me, and told me lies. Tell me, I pray 
thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound." 

He said unto her : " If they bind me with new ropes 
wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I be- 
come weak, and be as another man." 

So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, 
and said unto him: "The Philistines be upon thee, 
Samson." 

He brake the ropes from off his arms like a thread; 
and Delilah said unto Samson: "Hitherto thou hast 
told me lies. Tell me wherewith thou mightest be 
bound." 

It came to pass, when she pressed him daily with 
her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed 
unto death. So he told her all his heart, and said unto 
her: "There hath not come a razor on mine head. 



The Judges 147 

If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and 
I shall become weak, and be like any other man." 

Delilah sent for the lords of the Philistines, saying: 
" Come this once, for he hath told me all his heart." 

The lords of the Philistines came unto her, and 
brought the money in their hands. She made him 
sleep on her knees; and she called for a man who 
shaved off the seven locks of his head ; and his strength 
went from him. She said: "The Philistines be upon 
thee, Samson." 

He awoke out of his sleep, and said: "I will go out 
as at other times, and shake myself." 

He wist not that the Lord was departed from him ; 
and the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes ; 
and they brought him to Gaza, and bound him with fet- 
ters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. 
Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow after he 
was shaven. 

The lords of the Philistines gathered together to 
offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to 
rejoice; for they said: "Our god hath delivered Sam- 
son our enemy into our hand." 

The people praised their god, and it came to pass, 
when their hearts were merry, that they said: "Call 
Samson, that he may make us sport." 

They called Samson out of the prison house; and 
he made sport before them, and they set him between 
the pillars. 



148 The Narrative Bible 

Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand : 
" Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereon the house 
resteth, that I may lean on them." 

Now the house was full of men and women, and all 
the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were 
on the roof about three thousand men and women, 
that beheld while Samson made sport. Samson called 
unto the Lord, and said: "O Lord God, remember 
me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, that I may be 
avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." 

Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which 
the house rested, and leaned on the one with his right 
hand, and on the other with his left; and Samson said : 
" Let me die with the Philistines." 

He bowed himself with all his might, and the house 
fell on the lords, and on all the people that were therein. 
So the Philistines that he slew at his death were more 
than they that he slew in his life. Then his brethren 
and all the house of his father came, and took him, and 
buried him in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. 



XI 



RUTH 



IT came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, 
that there was a famine in the land; and a certain 
man of Beth-lehem went to sojourn in the coun- 
try of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. The 
name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his 
wife Naomi, and the name of his sons Mahlon and 
Chilion. 

They came into the country of Moab, and continued 
there, and Elimelech died. The two sons took wives 
of the women of Moab ; and the name of one was Orpah, 
and the name of the other Ruth. After about ten years 
Mahlon and Chilion died, and Naomi arose that she 
might return unto Beth-lehem, and she said unto her 
daughters-in-law: "Go, each of you, to her mother's 
house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have 
dealt with the dead, and with me." 

They said unto her: "Nay, but we will return with 
thee unto thy people." 

Naomi said : " My daughters, why will ye go with me ? 
The hand of the Lord is gone forth against me." 

They lifted up their voices, and wept, and Orpah 
kissed her mother-in-law, and returned; but Ruth 
clave unto her. 



150 The Narrative Bible 

Naomi said: "Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back 
unto her people. Return thou after her." 

Ruth said : " Entreat me not to leave thee ; for whither 
thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will 
lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God 
my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will 
I be buried/' 

When Naomi saw that Ruth was steadfastly minded 
to go with her, she left speaking unto her. So they two 
went until they came to Beth-lehem; and all the city 
was moved about them, and the women of the city said : 
"Is this Naomi ?" 

She said unto them: "The Almighty hath dealt very 
bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath 
brought me home empty." 

Naomi and Ruth the Moabitess came to Beth-lehem 
in the beginning of the barley harvest. Naomi had a 
kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, 
and his name was Boaz. Ruth said unto Naomi: 
" Let me go to glean among the ears of corn after him 
in whose sight I shall find grace." 

Naomi said : " Go, my daughter." 

She went, and gleaned after the reapers, and her 
hap was to light on the field belonging unto Boaz. 
Behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto 
the reapers : " The Lord be with you." 

They answered him: "The Lord bless thee." 



Ruth 151 

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over 
the reapers : " Whose damsel is this ? " 

The servant answered: "It is the Moabitish damsel 
that came back with Naomi; and she said: 'Let me, 
I pray you, gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' 
So she came, and hath continued even from the morn- 
ing until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.' ' 

Then said Boaz unto Ruth: "Go not to glean in 
another field; but abide here by my maidens. Let 
thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go 
thou after them. When thou art athirst, go unto the 
vessels, and drink of that which the young men have 
drawn." 

She bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him: 
"Why have I found grace in thine eyes, seeing I am a 
stranger ? " 

Boaz answered: "It hath fully been showed me, all 
that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the 
death of thine husband, and how thou hast left thy 
father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and 
art come unto a people which thou knewest not. The 
Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given 
thee of the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art 
come to take refuge." 

Then she said: "My lord, thou hast comforted me; 
for thou hast spoken kindly unto thine handmaid." 

At meal-time Boaz said unto her: "Come hither, 
and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar." 



152 The Narrative Bible 

She sat beside the reapers, and they reached her 
parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed. When 
she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young 
men, saying: "Let her glean even among the sheaves. 
Also let fall some of the handfuls for her, that she may 
glean them, and rebuke her not." 

So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat 
out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of 
barley. She took it up, and went into the city; and her 
mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and said unto 
her: " Where hast thou gleaned today ? " 

Ruth said : " The man's name with whom I wrought 
is Boaz." 

Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law: "Blessed be 
he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to 
the living and to the dead. The man is near of kin unto 
us. It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his 
maidens." 

So Ruth kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean 
unto the end of harvest. She dwelt with her mother- 
in-law, and Naomi said unto her: "Behold, Boaz 
winnoweth barley tonight. Wash thyself therefore, 
and put thy raiment on thee, and get thee down to the 
threshing-floor; but make not thyself known unto the 
man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 
When he lieth down, mark the place where he shall lie, 
and go in, and lay thee down at his feet, and he will tell 
thee what thou shalt do." 



Ruth 153 

Ruth said : "All that thou say est I will do." 

She went unto the threshing-floor, and when Boaz 
had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went 
to lie down at the end of the heap of barley; and she 
came softly, and laid her down. At midnight the man 
turned himself, and, behold, a woman lay at his feet; 
and he said : " Who art thou ? " 

She answered: "I am Ruth, thine handmaid. 
Spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for 
thou art a near kinsman." 

He said : " Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter. 
It is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is 
a kinsman nearer than I. Let him do the kinsman's 
part; but if he will not, then will I, as the Lord liveth. 
Lie down until the morning." 

She lay at his feet until the morning, and she rose up, 
and he said: "Bring the mantle that is on thee, and 
hold it." 

She held it, and he measured six measures of barley, 
and laid it on her. When she came to her mother-in-law, 
Naomi said: "How hast thou fared, my daughter?" 

Ruth told all that the man had done to her, and said : 
" These six measures of barley gave he me." 

Then Naomi said : " My daughter, the man will not 
rest, until he have finished the thing." 

Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there; and, 
behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; 
unto whom he said : " Ho ! turn aside, sit down here." 



154 The Narrative Bible 

He turned aside, and sat down; and Boaz took ten 
men of the elders of the city, and said: "Sit ye down 
here." 

They sat down, and he said unto the near kinsman: 
"Naomi, that is come out of the country of Moab, 
selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elime- 
lech's. Buy it before them that sit here; but if thou 
wilt not redeem it, then tell me, for I am after thee; and 
thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess." 

The near kinsman said : " I cannot redeem it." 

In former times concerning redeeming and exchang- 
ing, to confirm all things, a man drew off his shoe, and 
gave it to his neighbor. So the near kinsman said unto 
Boaz : " Buy it for thyself; " and he drew off his shoe. 

Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people : 
"Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that 
was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mah- 
lon's. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of 
Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife." 

All the people that were in the gate said: "We are 
witnesses." 

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and she 
bare a son; and the women said unto Naomi: " Blessed 
be the Lord, which hath not left thee without a near 
kinsman. The child shall be unto thee a nourisher of 
thine old age." 

Naomi took the child, and became nurse unto it, and 
the women, her neighbors, called his name Obed, and 
from him was descended David king of Israel. 



XII 



SAMUEL AND THE FIRST OF THE KINGS 

THERE was a certain man of the hill country of 
Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, and he had 
a wife named Hannah; but Hannah had no children. 
This man went from year to year to worship and to 
sacrifice unto the Lord in Shiloh. At one time, when 
Elkanah sacrificed, Eli the priest sat by the door- 
post of the temple of the Lord; and Hannah was in 
bitterness of soul, and prayed and wept. She vowed a 
vow, and said: " O Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt look on 
the affliction of thine handmaid, and wilt give unto 
thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto 
the Lord all the days of his life." 

It came to pass as she continued praying that Eli said : 
" Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thy petition/' 

So the woman went her way, and her countenance 
was no more sad, and she and Elkanah returned to their 
house to Ramah. The Lord remembered her, and it 
came to pass that Hannah bare a son; and she called 
his name Samuel. When she had weaned him, she 
took him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and 
they brought the child to Eli. She said: "I am the 
woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. 



156 The Narrative Bible 

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me 
my petition. Therefore I have granted the child to the 
Lord." 

They worshipped, and went to Ramah, and the child 
did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest, girded 
with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him 
a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, 
when she came with her husband to offer the yearly 
sacrifice; and the child Samuel grew, and was in favor 
with the Lord, and also with men. 

Now the sons of Eli knew not the Lord, and the sin 
of the young men was very great. Eli heard all that 
his sons did, and he said unto them: "Why do ye such 
things ? Ye make the Lord's people to transgress." 

Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice 
of their father; and there came a man of God unto Eli, 
and said unto him: "Thus saith the Lord: 'Them 
that honor Me will I honor, and they that despise Me 
shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, in one day thy two 
sons shall die both of them; and I will raise Me up a 
faithful priest. Everyone that is left in thine house 
shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver 
and a morsel of bread." 

The child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before 
Eli, and when Samuel was laid down to sleep, in the 
temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, the Lord 
called Samuel. 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 157 

He ran unto Eli, and said: "Here am I; for thou 
calledst me." 

Eli said : " I called not. Lie down again." 

Samuel went and lay down, and the Lord called yet 
again: "Samuel." 

Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said: "Here am 
I; for thou calledst me." 

Eli answered: "I called not, my son. Lie down 
again." 

The Lord called Samuel the third time. He arose 
and went to Eli and said: "Here am I; for thou didst 
call me." 

Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. 
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel: "Go, lie down; and 
it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shalt say: 'Speak, 
Lord; for thy servant heareth.' " 

So Samuel went and lay down in his place; and the 
Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times: 
"Samuel, Samuel." 

Then Samuel said : " Speak; for thy servant heareth." 

The Lord said: "Behold, I will perform against Eli 
all that I have spoken concerning his house, because 
his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them 
not." 

Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors 
of the house of the Lord; and Samuel feared to show 
Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel, and said : " What 
is the thing that the Lord hath spoken unto thee ?" 



158 The Narrative Bible 

Samuel told him, and Eli said: "It is the Lord. 
Let Him do what seemeth good." 

Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and all 
Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba* knew that Samuel 
was established to be a prophet of the Lord. 

Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and 
Israel was smitten before the Philistines. When the 
people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel 
said: "Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us today 
before the Philistines ? Let us fetch the ark of the 
covenant unto us, that it may save us out of the hand of 
our enemies." 

So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought thence the 
ark of the covenant of the Lord; and the two sons of 
Eli were with the ark of the covenant. When it came 
into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout. 
The Philistines heard the noise of the shout, and said : 
"What meaneth this great shout in the camp of the 
Hebrews ?" 

They understood that the ark of the Lord was come 
into the camp; and the Philistines were afraid, for they 
said: "God is come into the camp. Woe unto us! 
This is the God that smote the Egyptians with all man- 
ner of plagues. Be strong, O ye Philistines, that ye be 
not servants unto the Hebrews. Quit yourselves like 
men, and fight." 



*Dan was a city recognized as the most northern landmark of 
Palestine, and Beer-sheba was at the southern limit of the country. 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 159 

The Philistines fought, and there fell of Israel thirty 
thousand men; and the ark of God was taken, and the 
two sons of Eli were slain. There ran a man out of 
the army, and came to Shiloh with his clothes rent, and 
with earth on his head; and, lo, Eli sat by the wayside 
watching. When the man came into the city, all the 
city cried out, and Eli said: "What meaneth this 
tumult ?" 

The man hasted, and came and told Eli: "Israel 
is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been a great 
slaughter among the people, and thy two sons are dead, 
and the ark of God is taken." 

It came to pass, when he made mention of the ark 
of God, that Eli fell off his seat backward by the side 
of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died; for he 
was an old man, and heavy. 

The Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they 
brought it unto Ashdod into the house* of Dagon, and 
set it by Dagon. When they of Ashdod arose early 
on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face 
to the ground before the ark of the Lord. They took 
Dagon and set him in his place; and when they arose 
on the morrow, Dagon was fallen on his face before the 
ark of the Lord ; and the head of Dagon and both of his 
hands lay cut off on the threshold. 



*This was a place of worship, and contained an image of Dagon 
the god of the Philistines. Dagon was represented to have a human 
head and arms; but the lower portion of the body was that of a fish. 



160 The Narrative Bible 

The hand of the Lord was heavy on them of Ashdod, 
and he destroyed them, and smote them with tumors; 
and they said : " The ark of the God of Israel shall not 
abide with us; for His hand is sore on us, and on Dagon 
our god." 

They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the 
Philistines unto them, and said: "What shall we do 
with the ark of the God of Israel ?" 

They answered: " Let it be carried unto Gath." 

They carried the ark thither, and the Lord smote 
the men of the city. So they sent it to Ekron; and the 
Ekronites cried out, saying: "They have brought 
the ark of the God of Israel to slay our people. Let 
it go to its own place." 

There was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the 
city; and the Philistines called for the priests and 
diviners who said: "Make a new cart, and take two 
milch kine, and tie the kine to the cart, and lay the 
ark on the cart, and send it away." 

The men did so, and the kine took the straight way 
to Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went, and turned not 
aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the 
Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth- 
shemesh. They of Beth-shemesh were reaping their 
wheat, and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, 
and rejoiced. The cart came into a field, and stood 
there; and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered 
up the kine for a burnt offering unto the Lord. 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 161 

The Lord smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because 
they looked into the ark; and they sent messengers to 
the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying: " The Philis- 
tines have brought the ark of the Lord. Come ye, and 
fetch it to you." 

The men of Kirjath-jearim came, and brought it into 
the house of Abinadab in Gibeah, and the ark abode 
there twenty years. 

Israel lamented after the Lord, and Samuel spake, 
saying: "If ye do return unto the Lord with all your 
heart, put away the strange gods from among you, and 
the Lord will deliver you out of the hand of the 
Philistines." 

Then the children of Israel served the Lord only, 
and Samuel said : " Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and 
I will pray for you." 

They gathered together to Mizpeh, and fasted. When 
the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were 
gathered together, they went against Israel; and the 
children of Israel were afraid, and said to Samuel: 
"Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that 
He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." 

Samuel cried unto the Lord, and the Philistines drew 
near to battle against Israel; but the Lord thundered 
with a great thunder on the Philistines, and they were 
smitten before Israel. So the Philistines were subdued, 
and the cities which they had taken from Israel were 
restored. 



162 The Narrative Bible 

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life; and it 
came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his 
sons judges over Israel; and his sons walked not in his 
ways, but took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then 
all the elders of Israel came to Samuel, and said: 
"Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy 
ways. Now make us a king to judge us." 

The thing displeased Samuel, and he prayed unto the 
Lord. The Lord said: "Hearken unto the voice of 
the people in all that they say unto thee. Howbeit 
protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner 
of the king that shall reign over them." 

Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people, 
and said : " The king that shall reign over you will take 
your sons, and appoint them to be his horsemen, and 
he will set some to plow his ground, and to reap his 
harvest, and to make his instruments of war. He 
will take your daughters to be cooks, and to be 
bakers. He will take your fields and your vineyards, 
even the best of them, and give them to his servants, 
and he will take the tenth of your seed. He will take 
your menservants, and your maidservants, and your 
asses, and put them to his work. Ye shall cry out in 
that day because of your king, and the Lord will not 
answer you." 

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of 
Samuel ; and they said : " Nay, but we will have a king 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 163 

over us, that we may be like all the nations, and that 
our king may judge us, and fight our battles." 

Samuel heard all the words of the people, and said: 
" Go ye every man unto his city." 

There was a man of Benjamin, whose name was 
Kish; and he had a son, whose name was Saul. There 
was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person 
than Saul. From his shoulders and upward he was higher 
than any of the people. 

The asses of Kish were lost, and Kish said to Saul: 
"Take one of the servants, and go seek the asses." 

Saul passed through the country till he was come 
to the land of Zuph, but he found them not; and he 
said to his servant: " Let us return." 

The servant said: "Behold, there is in this city a 
man of God, and all that he saith cometh surely to pass. 
Peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey." 

Then said Saul to his servant: "But if we go, what 
shall we bring the man ? " 

The servant answered: "I have in my hand the 
fourth part of a shekel of silver.* That will I give to 
the man of God, to tell us our way." 

So they went unto the city where the man of God 
was; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel 
came out. Now the Lord had told Samuel a day before 
Saul came: "Tomorrow about this time I will send 



*The ordinary shekel of gold had a value of about eleven dollars. 
The silver shekel was worth about seventy-five cents. 



164 The Narrative Bible 

thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou 
shalt anoint him to be prince over My people Israel, 
that he may save My people out of the hand of the 
Philistines.' , 

When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him: 
" Behold the man of whom I spake to thee. This same 
shall reign over My people." 

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said : 
" Tell me I pray thee, where the seer's house is." 

Samuel answered: "I am the seer. Ye shall eat 
with me today, and tomorrow I will let thee go. As 
for thine asses that were lost three days ago, they are 
found." 

Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them 
into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the 
chief est place among them that were bidden, who were 
about thirty persons. So Saul did eat with Samuel that 
day, and they spread a couch for Saul on the housetop, 
and he lay down. About the spring of the day Samuel 
called to Saul, saying: "Up, that I may send thee 
away." 

Saul arose, and they went out. At the end of the 
city, Samuel said to Saul: "Bid the servant pass on 
before us." 

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on 
Saul's head, and kissed him, and said: "The Lord 
hath anointed thee to be prince over His inheritance. 
God is with thee." 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 165 

Saul returned to his father's house, and Saul's uncle 
said unto him and to his servant : " Whither went ye ? " 

Saul said : " To seek the asses ; and when they were 
not found, we came to Samuel." 

Saul's uncle said: "Tell me, I pray thee, what 
Samuel said unto you." 

Saul said: "He told us plainly that the asses were 
found." But concerning the matter of the kingdom, 
whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. 

Samuel called the people together, and said: 
" Thus saith the Lord : * I delivered you out of the hand 
of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the king- 
doms that oppressed you; but ye have rejected your 
God, who saveth you out of all your adversities and 
your distresses, and ye have said unto Him: "Set a 
king over us." Now therefore present yourselves 
before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands/ " 

But Saul the son of Kish could not be found; and 
the Lord said: "Behold he hath hid himself among 
the baggage." 

They ran and fetched him, and when he stood among 
the people, he was higher than any from his shoulders 
and upward. Samuel said to the people: "See ye him 
whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him." 

All the people shouted, and said: "God save the 
king." 

Then Samuel sent the people away, and Saul went 
home to Gibeah. 



166 The Narrative Bible 

Nahash the Ammonite came and encamped against 
Jabesh-gilead ; and the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash : 
"Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee." 

Nahash said unto them: "On this condition will I 
make it, that all your right eyes be put out." 

The elders of Jabesh said unto him : " Give us 
seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto 
all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be no man to 
save us, we will come to thee." 

The messengers came to Gibeah, and the people 
lifted up their voices, and wept. Saul came following 
the oxen out of the field, and Saul said: "What aileth 
the people that they weep ? " 

They told him the words of the men of Jabesh; and 
the spirit of God came mightily on Saul, and his anger 
was kindled greatly. He sent messengers throughout 
Israel, and the people came as one man. Saul put the 
people in three companies, and they came in the morn- 
ing watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of 
the day; and the Ammonites which remained were 
scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 

Then said Samuel to the people : " Let us go to Gil- 
gal, and renew the kingdom." 

All the people went to Gilgal, and there they made 
Saul king; and the Philistines assembled to fight with 
Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand 
horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea- 
shore in multitude. Then the people of Israel did hide 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 167 

themselves in caves, and in thickets and in pits. 
Saul was yet in Gilgal, and Saul numbered the people 
that were present with him, about six hundred men. 
Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto the young man 
that bare his armor : " Come and let us go to the Philis- 
tines' garrison;" but he told not his father. 

Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to 
go unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky 
crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other 
side. Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his 
feet, and his armorbearer after him, and the Philistines 
fell before Jonathan. That first slaughter, which Jona- 
than and his armorbearer made, was about twenty 
men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre 
of land ; and there was a trembling in the camp among 
all the people. 

The watchmen of Saul looked, and, behold, the multi- 
tude melted away, and went hither and thither; and 
Saul and the people that were with him came to the 
battle, and there was a very great discomfiture. All the 
men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill coun- 
try of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines 
fled, followed hard after them in the battle. So the 
Lord saved Israel, and the Philistines went to their 
own place. 

Samuel said unto Saul: "Thus saith the Lord: 
1 Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that 



168 The Narrative Bible 

they have. Spare them not; but slay man, woman 
and infant, ox and sheep, camel and ass/ " 

Saul summoned the people, and smote the Amalek- 
ites, and he took Agag their king alive, and utterly 
destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 
But Saul spared the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, 
and the lambs. Then came the word of the Lord unto 
Samuel, saying: "It repenteth Me that I have set up 
Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following 
Me." 

Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, 
and Saul said unto him: "I have performed the com- 
mandment of the Lord." 

Samuel said: "What meaneth then this bleating of 
the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen 
which I hear ? " 

Saul said : " The people spared the best of the sheep 
and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord." 

Samuel said unto Saul: "The Lord sent thee on a 
journey, and said : ' Go and utterly destroy the sinners, 
the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be 
consumed.' Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt 
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the 
Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to 
hearken than the fat of rams. Because thou hast re- 
jected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee 
from being king." 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 169 

Saul said: "I have transgressed the commandment 
of the Lord, and thy words. I pray thee, pardon my 
sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the 
Lord." 

Samuel turned after Saul, and Saul worshipped the 
Lord. Then said Samuel: "Bring ye hither to me 
Agag the king of the Amalekites." 

Agag came and said : " Surely the bitterness of death 
is past." 

Samuel said: "As thy sword hath made women 
childless, so shall thy mother be childless;" and 
Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 

Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went to his 
house to Gibeah. Samuel came no more to see Saul, 
but Samuel mourned for Saul; and the Lord said unto 
Samuel: "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I 
have rejected him ? Fill thine horn with oil, and I will 
send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite ; for I have pro- 
vided Me a king among his sons." 

Samuel said: "How can I go? If Saul hear it, he 
will kill me." 

The Lord said: "Take a heifer with thee, and say: 
'I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Call Jesse to the 
sacrifice, and thou shalt anoint him whom I name unto 
thee." 

Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to 
Beth-lehem; and he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and 
called them to the sacrifice. When they were come, he 



170 The Narrative Bible 

looked on Eliab, and said : " Surely the Lord's anointed 
is before Him." 

But the Lord said unto Samuel: "I have rejected 
him. The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man look- 
eth on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh 
on the heart." 

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and 
Samuel said: "The Lord hath not chosen these. Are 
here all thy children ? " 

Jesse said: "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, 
behold, he keepeth the sheep." 

Samuel said : " Send and fetch him." 

Jesse sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, 
and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to 
look on. The Lord said: "Arise, anoint him; for this 
is he." 

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him 
in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit of the Lord 
came mightily on David from that day forward. 

The spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and 
an evil spirit troubled him; and Saul's servants said 
unto him: "Let our lord command thy servants to 
seek out a man who is a cunning player on the harp; 
and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit is on thee, 
that he shall play, and thou shalt be well." 

Saul said: "Provide me a man that can play well, 
and bring him to me." 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 171 

Then answered one of the servants: "Behold, I 
have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is 
cunning in playing, and prudent in speech, and a comely 
person, and the Lord is with him." 

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said : 
" Send me David thy son." 

David came to Saul, and stood before him, and be- 
came his armorbearer. When the evil spirit was on 
Saul, David took the harp, and played. So Saul was 
refreshed, and the evil spirit departed from him. 

The Philistines gathered together their armies, and 
Saul and the men of Israel set the battle in array against 
the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain 
on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on 
the other side, and there was a valley between them. A 
champion went out of the camp of the Philistines, named 
Goliath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He 
had a helmet of brass on his head, and he was clad with 
a coat of mail, and the staff of his spear was like a 
weaver's beam. He stood and cried unto the ranks of 
Israel, and said: " Choose you a man, and let him come 
down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and kill 
me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail 
against him, and kill him, then shall ye serve us." 

When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the 
Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid; 
and the Philistine drew near morning and evening, 
and presented himself forty days 



172 The Narrative Bible 

The three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul 
to the battle. But David returned to feed his father's 
sheep at Beth-lehem. Jesse said unto David : " Take 
this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and carry 
them quickly to the camp to thy brethren, and look 
how thy brethren fare." 

David left the sheep with a keeper, and went, as 
Jesse commanded him, and he came to the place of the 
wagons, as the host was going forth to the fight. Israel 
and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against 
army; and David left his baggage, and ran into the army, 
and saluted his brethren. As he talked with them, 
behold, there came the champion Goliath out of the 
ranks of the Philistines, and spake according to the 
same words. 

David spake to the men that stood by him, saying: 
" What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philis- 
tine? for who is this Philistine, that he should defy 
the armies of the living God ? " 

The people answered: "The man who killeth him, 
the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him 
his daughter." 

Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto 
the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, 
and he said : " Why art thou come, and with whom hast 
thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know 
thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou 
art come that thou mightest see the battle." 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 173 

David turned toward another, and spake after the 
same manner, and the words David spake were re- 
hearsed before Saul; and Saul sent for him. David 
said to Saul: "Thy servant will go and fight with this 
Philistine.' , 

Saul said : " Thou art but a youth, and he a man of 
war." 

David said unto Saul : " Thy servant kept his father's 
sheep, and when there came a lion, and took a lamb 
out of the flocks, I went after him and smote him, 
and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose 
against me, I caught him by his beard, and slew him. 
The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, 
will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. ,, 

Saul said unto David : " Go, and the Lord shall be 
with thee." 

Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet 
of brass on his head, and he clad him with a coat of 
mail. David said : " I cannot go with these, for I have 
not proved them; " and David put them off him. 

He took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth 
stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd's 
bag which he had; and his sling was in his hand, and 
he drew near to the Philistine. When the Philistine 
looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for 
he was but a youth. The Philistine said unto David: 
"Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves?" 
And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 



174 The Narrative Bible 

The Philistine said to David: "Come to me, and I 
will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the 
beasts of the field." 

Then said David : " Thou comest to me with a sword, 
and with a spear; but I come to thee in the name of the 
God of the armies of Israel. This day will the Lord 
deliver thee into mine hand." 

It came to pass, when the Philistine drew nigh to 
meet David, that David hastened, and ran to meet the 
Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, and took 
thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine 
in his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and 
with a stone; but there was no sword in the hand of 
David. Then David stood over the Philistine, and 
took his sword out of the sheath, and cut off his head. 

When the Philistines saw that their champion was 
dead, they fled; and the men of Israel shouted, and 
pursued the Philistines to the gates of Ekron. 

The captain of the host brought David before Saul 
with the head of the Philistine in his hand; and Saul 
would let him go no more to his father's house. David 
went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved 
himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. 

As they returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, 
the women came out of all the cities of Israel, to meet 
King Saul, singing and dancing, and with instruments 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 175 

of music. The women sang to one another in their play, 
and said: 

" Saul hath slain his thousands, 
And David his ten thousands." 

Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him. 
Michal Saul's daughter loved David; and they told 
Saul, and Saul said : " I will give him her, that she may 
be a snare to him." 

Saul commanded his servants, saying: "Commune 
with David secretly, and say: 'Behold, the king hath 
delight in thee. Now therefore be the king's son-in- 
law. The king desireth not any dowry, but that thou 
should kill a hundred of the Philistines.' " 

When his servants told David these words, David 
arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philis- 
tines two hundred men; and Saul gave him Michal his 
daughter to wife. Saul saw that the Lord was with 
David, and Saul was David's enemy, and spake to 
Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they 
should kill David. But Jonathan delighted much in 
David, and Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul, 
and said: "Let not the king sin against David. He 
put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the 
Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel. Thou sawest 
it and didst rejoice. Wherefore then wilt thou slay David 
without a cause ? " 



176 The Narrative Bible 

Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan, and 
Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his 
presence, as beforetime. 

There was war again; and David fought with the 
Philistines, and they fled before him. An evil spirit 
was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in 
his hand. David played, and Saul sought to smite 
David with the spear; but David slipped away out of 
Saul's presence, and Saul smote the spear into the wall. 

David escaped, and came and said before Jonathan: 
" What is mine iniquity, that thy father seeketh my life ? 
There is but a step between me and death.' ' 

Then said Jonathan : " Whatsoever thy soul desireth, 
I will even do it for thee." 

David said: "Tomorrow is the new moon, and I 
should not fail to sit with the king at meat; but let 
me go, that I may hide myself. If thy father miss me, 
then say: 'David earnestly asked leave of me that he 
might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly 
sacrifice there for all the family.' If he say: - It is well,' 
thy servant shall have peace; but if he be wroth, evil 
is determined by him." 

Jonathan said: "When thou hast stayed three days 
thou shalt come to the stone Ezel. I will shoot three 
arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark; 
and I will send a lad, saying: 'Go, find the arrows.' 
If I say unto the lad: 'Behold, the arrows are on this 
side of thee;' come, for there is peace to thee. But if I 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 177 

say unto the boy: 'Behold the arrows are beyond thee,' 
go thy way." 

So David hid himself, and when the new moon was 
come the king sat down to eat; but David's place was 
empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that 
day; for he thought: "Something hath befallen him." 

On the morrow Saul said unto Jonathan: "Where- 
fore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat ? " 

Jonathan answered: "David earnestly asked leave 
of me to go to Beth-lehem; and he said: 'Let me go, 
I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city.' " 

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, 
and he said : " Do not I know that thou hast chosen the 
son of Jesse to thine own shame ? for as long as the son 
of Jesse liveth thou shalt not be established, nor thy 
kingdom. Send and fetch him unto me, for he shall 
surely die." 

Jonathan answered : " Wherefore shall he be slain ? 
What hath he done?" 

Saul cast his spear at him to smite him. So Jonathan 
arose from the table in fierce anger. 

In the morning Jonathan went out into the field at 
the time appointed, and a little lad with him. He said 
unto his lad : " Run, find now the arrows which I shoot." 

As the lad ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him, 
and cried after the lad : " Is not the arrow beyond thee ? 
Make speed. Stay not." 



178 The Narrative Bible 

Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to 
his master; and Jonathan gave his weapons unto his 
lad, and said : " Carry them to the city." 

As soon as the lad was gone, David arose, and they 
kissed one another, and wept with one another, and 
Jonathan said to David: " Go in peace." 

David departed, and Jonathan went into the city. 

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, 
and Ahimelech said : " Why art thou alone ? " 

David said: "The king hath said unto me: 'Let 
no man know anything of the business whereabout I 
send thee/ Now therefore, give me five loaves of 
bread." 

The priest said : " There is no common bread under 
mine hand, but there is holy bread." 

So the priest gave him the showbread, that was taken 
from before the Lord. 

David said unto Ahimelech : " Is there not here spear 
or sword ? for I have neither brought my sword nor 
any weapons, because the king's business required 
haste." 

The priest said: "The sword of Goliath the Philis- 
tine, whom thou slewest, is here wrapped in a cloth. 
If thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other." 

David said : " Give it me." 

David fled that day to Achish the king of Gath; 
and the servants of Achish said : " Is not this David ? 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 179 

Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, 
saying: 

'Saul hath slain his thousands, 
And David his ten thousands ?' " 

David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore 
afraid; and he changed his behavior, and feigned him- 
self mad, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and 
let his spittle fall down on his beard. Then said Achish 
unto his servants: "Lo, ye see the man is mad. Have 
I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to 
play the mad man in my presence ? " 

David therefore departed, and escaped to the cave 
of Adullam ; and his brethren and all his father's house 
went down thither to him; and everyone that was in 
distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone 
that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him. 
He became captain over them, and there were with him 
about four hundred men. 

David went and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi. 
Saul took three thousand chosen men and went to seek 
David on the rocks of the wild goats; and he came 
to a cave, and Saul went in. David and his men 
were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave; and 
David cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. Saul rose 
up out of the cave, and went on his way. David also 
went out of the cave, and he cried after Saul, saying: 
" My lord the king." 



180 The Narrative Bible 

When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with 
his face to the earth, and said : " Wherefore hearkenest 
thou to men's words, saying: * Behold, David seeketh 
thy hurt ? ' This day thine eyes have seen how the Lord 
had delivered thee into mine hand in the cave. Some 
bade me kill thee, but I said : ' I will not put forth mine 
hand against my lord.' Moreover, see the skirt of thy 
robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy 
robe and killed thee not, know thou that there is neither 
evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not 
sinned against thee. The Lord judge between me and 
thee, and deliver me out of thine hand." 

When David had made an end of speaking these 
words, Saul lifted up his voice, and wept; and he said 
to David: "Thou art more righteous than I; for thou 
hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered 
unto thee evil. Now, behold, I know that thou shalt 
surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be 
established in thine hand." 

Saul went home; but David and his men gat them 
up unto the stronghold. 

Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together, and 
lamented him, and buried him. 

There was a man whose possessions were in Carmel, 
and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats. 
The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his 
wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understand- 
ing, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 181 

churlish and evil in his doings. David heard in the 
wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep; and David 
sent ten young men, and said : " Go to Nabal, and greet 
him in my name, and thus ye shall say to him: 'Peace 
be to thee, and to thine house. Thy shepherds have 
been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was 
there aught missing unto them. Wherefore let the 
young men find favor in thine eyes. Give, I pray thee, 
whatsoever cometh to thine hand, unto thy servants.' " 

David's young men spake to Nabal according to all 
those words, and Nabal answered : " Who is David ? 
Shall I take my bread, and my flesh that I have killed 
for my shearers, and give it unto men of whom I know 
not whence they be ? " 

So David's young men went back, and told him 
all those sayings. 

David said unto his men : " Gird ye on every man his 
sword." 

They girded on every man his sword, and there went 
up after David about four hundred men. But one of 
the servants told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying: 
"Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness 
to salute our master; and he railed on them. The 
men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, 
neither missed we anything, as long as we were con- 
versant with them. They were a wall unto us both by 
night and by day, all the while we were with them 
keeping the sheep. Now therefore consider what thou 



182 The Narrative Bible 

wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and 
against all his household.' ' 

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred 
loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready 
dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hun- 
dred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, 
and laid them on asses. She said unto her servants: 
" Go on before me. I come after you; " but she told not 
her husband. 

As she rode by the covert of the mountain, David 
and his men came down against her. When Abigail 
saw David, she alighted, and bowed herself to the 
ground, and said: "Hear thou the words of thine 
handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this 
man Nabal; for folly is with him. Now therefore, this 
present which thine handmaiden hath brought, let it be 
given unto the young men that follow my lord." 

David said to Abigail : " Blessed be the God of Israel 
who sent thee this day to meet me. Except thou hadst 
come, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by 
the morning light so much as one man child." 

So David received of her hand that which she had 
brought him ; and he said unto her : " Go in peace to 
thine house." 

It came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord 
smote Nabal, that he died; and when David heard 
that Nabal was dead he sent and spake concerning 



Samuel and the First of the Kings 183 

Abigail, to take her to wife. Abigail hasted, and rode 
after the messengers of David, and became his wife. 

In those days the Philistines gathered to fight with 
Israel; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they 
encamped in Gilboa. When Saul saw the host of the 
Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly ; 
and when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered 
him not, neither by dreams, nor by prophets. The 
Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel 
fled; and the Philistines followed hard on Saul and on 
his sons, and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abina- 
dab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. The battle 
went sore against Saul, and the archers wounded him, 
and he was greatly distressed. Then said Saul to his 
armorbearer: "Draw thy sword, and thrust me 
through therewith." 

But his armorbearer would not. Therefore Saul 
took his sword and fell on it ; and when his armorbearer 
saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, 
and died with him. 



XIII 



KING DAVID 



AFTER the death of Saul, behold, a man came out 
of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and 
earth on his head, and came to David, and did obeisance. 
David said unto him : " Whence comest thou ? " 

The man said : " Out of the camp of Israel am I es- 
caped. The people are fled from the battle, and many 
of the people are fallen ; and Saul and Jonathan his son 
are dead." 

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; 
and likewise all the men that were with him; and they 
mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, 
and for Jonathan, because they were fallen by the sword. 

It came to pass after this, that David inquired of 
the Lord, saying: "Shall I go into any of the cities of 
Judah?" 

The Lord said: "Go." 

David said : " Whither shall I go ? " 

The Lord said: "Unto Hebron." 

So David went thither, and the men of Judah came, 
and there they anointed David king over Judah. 

Abner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth 
the son of Saul, and made him king over all Israel; 



King David 185 

but the house of Judah followed David. There was a 
long war between the house of Saul and the house of 
David; and David waxed stronger and stronger; but 
the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 

Ish-bosheth had two men that were captains of bands, 
who went about the heat of the day to his house, as he 
took his rest at noon, and they slew him, and beheaded 
him. They brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto 
David to Hebron, and said: "The Lord hath avenged 
the king this day of Saul." 

David answered and said unto them: "When 
wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own 
house, shall I not require his blood of their hand ?" 

David commanded his young men, and they slew 
them. All the tribes of Israel came to David and 
spake, saying: "Behold, in times past, when Saul was 
king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest 
in Israel; and the Lord said to thee: 'Thou shalt be 
prince over Israel.' " 

So they anointed David king over Israel. David 
was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he 
reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah 
seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he 
reigned thirty and three years over all Israel. The 
king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebu- 
sites, the inhabitants of the land. David took the strong- 
hold of Zion; and David dwelt in the stronghold, and 
called it the city of David. 



186 The Narrative Bible 

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and 
cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons, and they 
built David a house; and David took more wives, and 
there were sons and daughters born to David. 

David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, 
thirty thousand, and went to bring the ark of God. 
They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it 
out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah, and 
Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the cart; 
and David and all the house of Israel played before the 
Lord with harps, and with psalteries, and with casta- 
nets, and with cymbals. Uzzah put forth his hand to 
the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stum- 
bled. The anger of the Lord was kindled against 
Uzzah, and God smote him, and there he died by the ark 
of God. 

David was displeased, because the Lord had broken 
forth on Uzzah, and he would not remove the ark of 
the Lord to the city of David; but carried it aside into 
the house of Obed-edom, the Gittite. The ark of the 
Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom three 
months; and it was told David, saying: "The Lord 
hath blessed Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth to him, 
because of the ark of God. " So David went and brought 
the ark of God into the city of David with gladness. 

It came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, 
and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies 
round about, that the king said unto Nathan the 



King David 187 

prophet: " See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the 
ark of God dwelleth within curtains." 

The same night the word of the Lord came unto 
Nathan, saying : " Go and tell my servant David : 
'Thus saith the Lord: "I took thee from following 
the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over My 
people, and I have been with thee whithersoever thou 
wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before 
thee. When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep 
with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee. He 
shall build a house for My name, and I will establish 
the throne of his kingdom for ever." 

According to these words, so did Nathan speak unto 
David. 

David reigned over all Israel; and executed judg- 
ment and justice unto all his people; and Joab was 
over the host. David said: "Is there yet any that is 
left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness 
for Jonathan's sake ? " 

There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name 
was Ziba, and they called him unto David. Ziba said: 
" Jonathan hath a son, who is lame on his feet." 

The king said : " Where is he ? " 

Ziba said: "Behold, he is in the house of Machir, in 
Lo-debar." 

David sent, and fetched him. Mephibosheth the 
son of Jonathan came unto David, and fell on his face, 
and did obeisance. David said unto him: "Fear 



188 The Narrative Bible 

not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan 
thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of 
Saul, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually." 

Then the king called to Ziba, and said: "All that 
pertained to Saul have I given unto thy master's son. 
Thou and thy sons shalt till the land for him." 

Then said Ziba: "According to all that my lord 
the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant 
do." 

It came to pass that David sent Joab and all Israel, 
and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and be- 
sieged Rabbah. 

David tarried at Jerusalem, and at eventide David 
walked on the roof of the king's house. From the roof he 
saw a woman, and the woman was very beautiful. 
David sent and inquired after the woman; and one 
said: "Is not this Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah the 
Hittite?" 

David sent to Joab saying: "Send me Uriah the 
Hittite." 

When Uriah was come, David asked how Joab did, 
and how the people fared, and how the war prospered; 
and David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the 
hand of Uriah. He wrote saying: "Set ye Uriah in 
the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from 
him, that he may be smitten, and die." 

It came to pass, when Joab kept watch on the city, 
that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew 



King David 189 

that valiant men were; and the men of the city went 
out, and fought with Joab, and there fell some of the 
servants of David, and Uriah the Hittite died also. 
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concern- 
ing the war. The messenger said unto David: "The 
men prevailed against us, and came out into the field, 
and we were on them even to the entering of the gate; 
and the shooters shot at thy servants from off the wall, 
and some of the king's servants be dead, and Uriah the 
Hittite is dead also." 

David said: "Thus shalt thou say unto Joab: 'Let 
not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth 
one as well as another. Make thy battle more strong 
against the city, and overthrow it;' and encourage 
thou him." 

When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was 
dead, she made lamentation for him; and after the 
mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his 
house. She became his wife, and bare him a son; but 
the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. 

The Lord sent Nathan unto David; and Nathan 
said: "There were two men in one city, the one rich, 
and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many 
flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing save 
one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished. 
It grew up with him and with his children. It did eat 
of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay 
in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. There 



190 The Narrative Bible 

came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to 
take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for 
the wayfaring man, but took the poor man's lamb, 
and dressed it for the traveller." 

David's anger was greatly kindled, and he said to 
Nathan: "As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done 
this shall die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, 
because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." 

Nathan said to David: "Thou art the man. Thus 
saith the Lord : ' I anointed thee king over Israel, and 
delivered thee out of the hand of Saul. Wherefore hast 
thou despised the word of the Lord, to do that which is 
evil in His sight ? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with 
the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife. 
Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion 
to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child that 
is born unto thee shall surely die.' " 

Nathan departed unto his house; and the Lord struck 
the child, and it was very sick. David therefore be- 
sought God for the child; and David fasted. On the 
seventh day the child died, and the servants of David 
feared to tell him that the child was dead. But when 
David saw that his servants whispered together, David 
perceived that the child was dead, and David arose 
and washed, and changed his apparel; and he came 
into the house of the Lord, and worshipped. Then he 
came to his own house, and he did eat. He said: 
"While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept. 



King David 191 

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I 
bring him back? I shall go to him, but he shall not 
return to me." 

David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and she bare 
a son, and he called his name Solomon; and the Lord 
loved him. 

Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose 
name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David mis- 
treated her. It came to pass that Absalom had sheep- 
shearers in Baal-hazor; and Absalom came to the king, 
and said: "Behold, thy servant hath sheepshearers. 
Let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with 
thy servant." 

The king said to Absalom: " Nay, my son, lest we be 
burdensome to thee." 

But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and 
all the king's sons go with him. Absalom commanded 
his servants, saying: "Mark ye now, when Amnon's 
heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you: 
' Smite Amnon;' then kill him." 

The servants did unto Amnon as Absalom had com- 
manded. Then all the rest of the king's sons arose, and 
every man gat him on his mule, and fled. Tidings 
came to David, saying: "Absalom hath slain all the 
king's sons, and there is not one of them left." 

The king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on 
the earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes 
rent. Jonadab, the son of David's brother, said: "Let 



192 The Narrative Bible 

not my lord suppose that they have slain all the king's 
sons. Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of 
Absalom this hath been determined from the day 
that he mistreated Absalom's sister Tamar." 

As soon as he had made an end of speaking, behold, 
the king's sons came; but Absalom fled to Geshur, 
and was there three years; and the soul of King David 
longed to go forth unto Absalom. The king said unto 
Joab : " Go, bring the young man Absalom to his own 
house; but let him not see my face." 

So Joab arose, and went to Geshur, and brought 
Absalom to Jerusalem. In all Israel there was none 
to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty. 
From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head 
there was no blemish in him. Absalom dwelt two full 
years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. 
Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king; 
but Joab would not come. Therefore Absalom said 
unto his servants : " See, Joab's field is near mine, and 
he hath barley there. Go and set it on fire." 

Absalom's servants set the field on fire. Then Joab 
arose, and came to Absalom, and said: "Wherefore 
have thy servants set my field on fire ? " 

Absalom answered: "Behold, I sent unto thee, 
saying: ' Come hither, that I may send thee to the king 
to say : " Wherefore am I come from Geshur ? It were 
better for me to be there still. Let me see the king's 
face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me." 



King David 193 

So Joab told the king, and when the king called for 
Absalom, he came and bowed himself on his face to 
the ground, and the king kissed him. 

After this Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, 
and fifty men to run before him. Absalom rose up 
early, and stood beside the way of the gate; and when 
any man had a suit which should come to the king for 
judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said: 
" There is no man deputed to hear thee. Oh that I were 
made judge in the land, that every man who hath any 
suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him 
justice ! " 

When any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he 
put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed 
him. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 

It came to pass that Absalom went to Hebron; and 
he sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: 
" As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye 
shall say: ' Absalom reigneth in Hebron.' ,: 

Absalom sent for Ahithophel, David's counsellor, 
and the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased 
continually with Absalom. 

There came a messenger to David, saying: "The 
hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom." 

David said unto his servants that were with him 
at Jerusalem: "Arise, and let us flee, lest he bring evil 
on us and smite the city with the edge of the sword." 



194 The Narrative Bible 

The king's servants said: "Behold, thy servants 
are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall 
choose." 

The king went forth, and all his household after him. 
David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives; 
and wept as he went up. He had his head covered, 
and went barefoot; and all the people that were with 
him covered every man his head, and they went up 
weeping. One told David, saying: "Ahithophel is 
among the conspirators with Absalom." 

David said: "O Lord, I pray Thee, turn the coun- 
sel of Ahithophel into foolishness." 

When David was come to the top of the mount, be- 
hold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his 
clothes rent, and earth on his head. David said unto 
him: "Return to the city, and say unto Absalom: 'I 
will be thy servant, O king.' Then shalt thou defeat for 
me the counsel of Ahithophel. Hast thou not there with 
thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests ? Therefore it 
shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of 
the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abia- 
thar. Behold, they have with them their two sons, 
Ahimaaz and Jonathan ; and by them ye shall send unto 
me everything that ye hear." 

So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city. 

When King David came to Bahurim, there came out 
thence a man, whose name was Shimei. He cursed as 
he came, and he cast stones at David, and at all the 



King David 195 

servants of King David. Thus said Shimei: "Begone, 
begone, thou man of blood! The Lord hath delivered 
the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, and thou art 
taken in thine own mischief." 

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king : 
"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? 
Let me go and take off his head." 

The king said: "Let him curse; for the Lord hath 
bidden him." 

So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei 
went along on the hillside over against them, and 
cursed, and threw stones, and cast dust. 

Absalom came to Jerusalem, and when Hushai, 
David's friend, was come, he said unto Absalom: 
" God save the king, whom the Lord and all the men 
of Israel have chosen. With him will I abide." 

Ahithophel said unto Absalom: "Let me choose 
twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after 
David this night, and I will come on him while he is 
weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid. 
All the people that are with him shall flee, and I will 
smite the king, and bring back the people unto thee." 

The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders 
of Israel. Then said Absalom: "Call now Hushai 
the Archite, and let us hear what he saith." 

Hushai said to Absalom : " The counsel that Ahitho- 
phel hath given this time is not good. Thou knowest 
thy father and his men be mighty men, and they be 



196 The Narrative Bible 

chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps. 
I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto thee, 
and that thou go to battle in thine own person. So 
shall we light on him as the dew falleth on the ground; 
and of him and of all the men that are with him we will 
not leave so much as one." 

Absalom and the men of Israel said : " The counsel of 
Hushai is better than the counsel of Ahithophel;" 
for the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel 
of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring 
evil on Absalom. 

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the 
priests: "Send quickly, and tell David, saying: 'Lodge 
not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but pass 
over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people 
that are with him.' " 

Jonathan and Ahimaaz went, but a lad saw them, and 
told Absalom. They came to the house of a man in 
Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went 
down thither. The woman spread a covering over 
the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon. 
Absalom's servants came to the woman, and they said: 
" Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan ? " 

The woman said: " They be gone over the brook." 

When they had sought and could not find them, they 
returned to Jerusalem, and Jonathan and Ahimaaz 
came up out of the well, and went and told King David. 
Then David arose, and all the people that were with 






King David 197 

him, and they passed over Jordan. By the morning 
light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over 
Jordan. 

David came to Mahanaim ; and Absalom passed over 
Jordan, he and all the men of Israel. David numbered 
the people that were with him, and set captains of 
thousands and captains of hundreds over them; and 
David sent forth the people, a third part unto Joab, a 
third part under Abishai, and a third part under Ittai 
the Gittite. The king stood by the gate, and all the 
people went out; and the king commanded Joab and 
Abishai and Ittai, saying: "Deal gently for my sake 
with the young man, even with Absalom." 

All the people heard when the king gave the captains 
charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out 
against Israel. The battle was in the forest of Eph- 
raim, and the people of Israel were smitten before the 
servants of David, and there was a great slaughter. 
Absalom rode on his mule, and the mule went under the 
thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold 
of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven 
and the earth; and the mule that was under him went 
on. A certain man saw it, and told Joab: "Behold, I 
saw Absalom hanging in an oak." 

Joab said unto the man : " Why didst thou not smite 
him to the ground ? I would have given thee ten pieces 
of silver, and a girdle." 



198 The Narrative Bible 

The man said : " Though I should receive a thousand 
pieces of silver, yet would I not put forth mine hand 
against the king's son; for in our hearing the king 
charged thee saying : * Beware that none touch the young 
man Absalom.' " 

Then said Joab: "I may not tarry thus with thee;" 
and he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them 
through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet in the 
midst of the oak. 

Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned 
from pursuing after Israel; and they took Absalom, 
and cast him into a pit in the forest, and raised over 
him a very great heap of stones. 

Then said Ahimaaz: " Let me now run, and bear the 
king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of 
his enemies." 

Joab said : " Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings 
this day." 

Then said Joab to the Cushite* : " Go tell the king 
what thou hast seen." 

The Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 

Then said Ahimaaz yet again to Joab: "But come 
what may, I will run." 

Joab said unto him: " Run." 

David sat between the two gates, and the watchman 
went up to the roof over the gate, and lifted up his eyes, 



*Or Ethiopian, probably one of Joab's servants. 



King David 199 

and, behold, a man running alone. The watchman 

cried, and told the king; and the king said: "If he be 

alone, there is tidings in his mouth." 

He came apace, and drew near; and the watchman 

called unto the porter, and said: "Behold, another 

man running alone." 

The king said : " He also bringeth tidings." 

The watchman said: "Me thinketh the running of 

the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz." 

The king said: "He is a good man, and cometh 

with good tidings." 

Ahimaaz bowed himself before the king with his face 

to the earth, and said: "Blessed be the Lord thy God, 

which hath delivered up the men that lifted their hands 

against the king." 

The king said : " Is the young man Absalom safe ? " 
Ahimaaz answered: "When Joab sent me, I saw 

a great tumult, but I knew not what it was." 
The king said: "Turn aside, and stand here." 
He turned aside, and the Cushite came, and the king 

said : " Is the young man Absalom safe ? " 

The Cushite answered: "The enemies of my lord 
the king, and all that rise against thee, be as that young 
man is." 

The king was much moved, and went up to the cham- 
ber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, thus he 
said: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! 



200 The Narrative Bible 

Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, 
my son ! " 

King David was old and stricken in years, and 
Adonijah his son exalted himself, saying: "I will be 
kmg." 

He conferred with Joab, and with Abiathar, and they 
helped him. But Zadok, and Nathan, and the mighty 
men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 
Then Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of 
Solomon, saying: "Hast thou not heard that Adonijah 
doth reign, and David knoweth it not ? Now therefore, 
let me give thee counsel, that thou may est save thine 
own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. Get thee in 
unto King David, and say: * Didst not thou, my lord, 
swear unto thine handmaid, saying: "Assuredly 
Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall 
sit on my throne ? " Why then doth Adonijah reign ? ' ' 

Bath-sheba went in unto the king and did obeisance, 
and the king said : " What wouldest thou ? " 

She said unto him: "My lord, thou swearest unto 
thine handmaid, saying: 'Assuredly Solomon thy son 
shall sit on my throne.' Now, behold, Adonijah 
reigneth, and he hath sacrificed oxen and fatlings and 
sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the 
king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of 
the host, but Solomon hath he not called. The eyes 
of all Israel are on thee, that thou shouldest tell them 
who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king. Other- 



King David 201 

wise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall 
sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall 
be counted offenders." 

The king said : " As the Lord liveth, I sware unto thee 
saying: * Assuredly Solomon shall reign after me.' ! 

King David said: "Call Zadok the priest, and Na- 
than the prophet." 

They came before the king, and the king said unto 
them: "Take with you the servants of your lord, and 
cause Solomon my son to ride on mine own mule, and 
bring him to Gihon. Let Zadok and Nathan anoint 
him there king over Israel, and blow ye with the trum- 
pet, and say: ' God save King Solomon.' Then he shall 
come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my 
stead. I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel." 

So Zadok and Nathan went, and caused Solomon to 
ride on King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon ; 
and Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the 
tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. They blew the 
trumpet, and the people said: "God save King 
Solomon." 

All the people came after him, and piped with pipes, 
and rejoiced with great joy. Adonijah and the guests 
that were with him heard the sound as they made an 
end of eating, and Joab said : " Wherefore is this noise 
of the city being in an uproar ? " 

While he yet spake, Jonathan the son of Abiathar 
came, and said to Adonijah: "Verily David hath 



202 The Narrative Bible 

made Solomon king, and Zadok and Nathan have 
anointed him king in Gihon ; and they are come thence 
rejoicing. This is the noise that ye have heard." 

The guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and 
went every man his way. Solomon sent for Adonijah; 
and he came and did obeisance, and Solomon said: 
" Go to thine house." 

David charged Solomon, saying: "I go the way of 
all the earth. Be thou strong, and show thyself a man; 
and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in 
His ways, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou 
doest;" and David slept with his fathers, and was 
buried in the city of David. 



XIV 



SOLOMON THE WISE 



SOLOMON sat on the throne, and his kingdom was 
established greatly. Solomon thrust out Abiathar 

from being priest, and the tidings came to Joab; and 
Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught 
hold on the horns of the altar. Then Solomon sent 
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying : " Go, fall on him." 

Benaiah came to the tabernacle, and said : " Come 
forth." 

Joab said : " Nay, but I will die here." 

Benaiah brought the king word, and the king said: 
" Do as he hath said." 

Then Benaiah went, and slew Joab, and the king put 
Benaiah over the host. 

Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, 
and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into 
the city of David. Solomon loved the Lord, and he 
went to Gibeon to sacrifice there. In Gibeon the Lord 
appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God 
said : " Ask what I shall give thee." 

Solomon said: "O Lord my God, Thou hast made 
Thy servant king, and I know not how to go out or come 
in. Give Thy servant therefore an understanding heart 



204 The Narrative Bible 

to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good 
and evil." 

The speech pleased the Lord, and God said: "Be- 
cause thou hast not asked for thyself long life; neither 
hast asked riches, nor the life of thine enemies, I have 
done according to thy words. I have also given thee that 
which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so 
that there shall not be any among the kings like unto 
thee all thy days." 

Solomon awoke, and, behold, it was a dream, and 
he came to Jerusalem. There came two women unto 
the king, and stood before him, and one woman said: 
"Oh my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; 
and I had a child; and it came to pass the third day 
after, that this woman also had a child. We were 
together, and there was no stranger with us in the house. 
This woman's child died in the night, because she over- 
laid it; and she arose and took my son from beside 
me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, 
and laid her dead child in my bosom. When I rose in 
the morning, my child was dead; but when I had con- 
sidered, behold, it was not my son." 

The other woman said: "Nay, but the living is my 
son, and the dead is thy son." 

Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king : 
" Bring me a sword." 



Solomon the Wise 205 

They brought a sword, and the king said: "Divide 
the living child in two, and give half to one, and half 
to the other." 

Then spake the woman whose the living child was: 
" Oh my lord, give her the child, and in no wise slay it." 

But the other said: "It shall be neither mine nor 
thine. Divide it." 

Then the king said : " Give her the child who would 
not have it slain. She is the mother thereof." 

All Israel heard of the judgment, and they feared the 
king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him. 

Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the river 
Euphrates unto the border of Egypt; and Judah and 
Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under 
his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days 
of Solomon. Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom 
of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of 
Egypt. His fame was in all the nations round about, 
and he spake three thousand proverbs, and his songs 
were a thousand and five. 

Solomon sent to Hiram, king of Tyre, saying: "Thou 
knowest that David, my father, could not build a house 
for the Lord his God for the wars which were about 
him on every side. But now the Lord hath given me 
rest; and, behold, I purpose to build a house for the 
Lord. Therefore command thou that they hew me 
cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall 



206 The Narrative Bible 

be with thy servants, and I will give thee hire for thy 
servants according to all that thou shalt say." 

Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: "I will do all thy 
desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning 
timber of fir. My servants shall bring the timbers down 
from Lebanon unto the sea, and I will make them into 
rafts to go by sea unto the place that thou shalt appoint 
me." 

King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel, thirty 
thousand men; and he sent them to Lebanon, ten 
thousand a month by courses. A month were they in 
Lebanon, and two months at home. Solomon had 
threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and 
fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains, 
besides officers that were over the work. The king 
commanded, and they hewed out great stones to lay 
the foundation of the house. The house was built of 
stone made ready at the quarry, and there was neither 
hammer, nor ax, nor any tool of iron heard in the house 
while it was building. There was cedar on the house 
within; and Solomon prepared an oracle in the midst 
of the house to set there the ark of the covenant, and 
he drew chains of gold across before the oracle. The 
whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with 
gold; and in the oracle he made two cherubim of olive 
wood, each ten cubits high, and he carved all the walls 
of the house round about with figures. He was seven 



Solomon the Wise 207 

years in building the house, and Solomon was building 
his own house thirteen years. 

All the work that King Solomon wrought in the house 
of the Lord was finished, and Solomon brought in the 
silver and the gold, and the vessels, and put them among 
the treasures of the house of the Lord. Then Solomon 
assembled the elders of Israel, and the heads of the 
tribes ; and the priests brought the ark of the Lord into 
the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even 
under the wings of the cherubim. When the priests 
were come out of the holy place, the glory of the Lord 
filled the house, and the king blessed all the congregation 
of Israel, and he offered for the sacrifice of peace 
offerings two and twenty thousand oxen, and a hundred 
and twenty thousand sheep. 

When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solo- 
mon, she came to prove him with hard questions. 
She came with a very great train, with camels that bare 
spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and 
when she was come to Solomon, she communed with 
him of all that was in her heart. Solomon told her all 
her questions, and when the queen of Sheba had seen 
all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had 
built, and his ministers, and their apparel, there was 
no more spirit in her. She said to the king : " It was a 
true report that I heard of thine acts, and of thy wisdom. 
Howbeit I believed not until I came; and, behold, the 
half was not told me. Happy are thy servants, which 



208 The Narrative Bible 

stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. 
Blessed be the Lord thy God which set thee on the 
throne of Israel." 

She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of 
gold, and of spices a very great store, and precious 
stones; and King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba 
all her desire, whatsoever she asked. 

The king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid 
it with the finest gold ; and all King Solomon's drinking 
vessels were of gold. The king had at sea a navy. 
Once in three years came the navy bringing gold, 
and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. So King 
Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches 
and in wisdom; and the king made silver to be in 
Jerusalem as stones. 

But King Solomon loved many strange women of 
the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the 
children of Israel: "Ye shall not go among them, 
neither shall they come among you." 

Solomon had seven hundred wives, and it came to 
pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned 
away his heart after other gods; and the Lord was 
angry with Solomon. 

Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, was a mighty man of 
valor, and Solomon saw the young man that he was in- 
dustrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor 
of the house of Joseph. It came to pass, when Jero- 
boam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah 



Solomon the Wise 209 

found him. They two were alone in the field; and 
Ahijah laid hold of the garment that was on him, and 
rent it in twelve pieces, and he said: "Take thee ten 
pieces; for thus saith the Lord : * Behold, I will rend the 
kingdom out of the hand of Solomon's son, and will 
give ten tribes to thee; and unto his son will I give 
one tribe, that David my servant may have a light 
always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have 
chosen. Thou shalt reign over Israel." 

Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam, but Jero- 
boam fled into Egypt. The time that Solomon reigned 
in Jerusalem was forty years; and Solomon slept with 
his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, and 
Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. 



XV 



THE LATER KINGS 



REHOBOAM went to Shechem, where all Israel 
were come to make him king; and Jeroboam and 
the congregation of Israel spake unto Rehoboam, 
saying: "Thy father made our yoke grievous. Now 
therefore make thou the service which he put on us 
lighter, and we will serve thee." 

King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that 
had stood before Solomon his father, and they spake, 
saying: "Speak good words unto this people. Then 
will they be thy servants forever." 

But he forsook the counsel of the old men, and con- 
sulted with the young men that were grown up with 
him. They said: "Thus shalt thou say unto this 
people : * Whereas my father did lade you with a heavy 
yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised 
you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' : 

So the king answered the people roughly, and when 
they saw that the king hearkened not unto them, they 
made Jeroboam king. There was none that followed 
the house of David but the tribe of Judah. Jero- 
boam said in his heart: "If this people go to offer 
sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then 



The Later Kings 211 

shall they turn again unto Rehoboam, and they shall 
kill me." 

Whereupon the king made two calves of gold; and 
he said: "It is too much to go to Jerusalem. Behold 
thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee out of Egypt." 

He set one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 
The people went to worship before them, and he made 
houses of high places, and made priests from among 
the people, that were not of the sons of Levi. 

Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick, and Jeroboam 
said to his wife : " Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thy- 
self, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; 
and get thee to Shiloh to Ahijah the prophet. He 
shall tell thee what shall become of the child." 

Jeroboam's wife arose, and went to Shiloh. Ahijah 
could not see by reason of his age; and the Lord said 
unto Ahijah: "Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to 
inquire of thee concerning her son. Thus and thus 
shalt thou say unto her; for she shall feign to be another 
woman." 

When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, he said: 
" Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam. Why feignest thou 
thyself to be another ? Go tell Jeroboam : ' Thus saith 
the Lord: "Forasmuch as thou hast made thee other 
gods, and molten images, and hast cast Me behind thy 
back, therefore I will utterly sweep away the house of 
Jeroboam. Arise, get thee to thine house, and when 
thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die." 



212 The Narrative Bible 

Jeroboam's wife departed, and as she came to the 
threshold of the house, the child died ; and all Israel 
mourned for him. 

Jeroboam reigned two and twenty years, and he slept 
with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead. 

Rehoboam reigned in Judah, and Judah did that 
which was evil in the sight of the Lord; and Shishak 
king of Egypt came against Jerusalem. He took away 
the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures 
of the king's house; and he took away all the shields 
of gold which Solomon had made, and King Rehoboam 
made in their stead shields of brass. 

There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam 
continually; and Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and 
was buried, and Abijam his son reigned in his stead. 

Abijam walked in all the sins of his fathers; and 
Abijam died, and Asa his son reigned. 

Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, 
and removed all the idols that his fathers had made; 
and Asa died, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned. 

Nadab the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel 
two years, and he did that which was evil. Baasha, 
of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and 
smote him, and reigned in his stead. As soon as 
Baasha was king, he smote all the house of Jeroboam. 
He left not to Jeroboam any that breathed. Baasha 
did that which was evil, and made Israel to sin; and 
Baasha slept with his fathers. 



The Later Kings 213 

Elak his son reigned in his stead, and Zimri, cap- 
tain of half the chariots, conspired against Elah, and 
killed him, and reigned in his stead. Zimri slew all 
the house of Baasha, and left not a single man child, 
neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. Zimri 
reigned seven days in Tirzah; and the people were 
encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the 
Philistines; and the people heard say: "Zimri hath 
conspired and slain the king;" wherefore they made 
Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel. Omri 
besieged Tirzah; and when Zimri saw that the city was 
taken, he went into the king's house, and burnt the 
king's house over him, and died. Omri reigned twelve 
years, and Omri slept with his fathers and Ahab his 
son reigned in his stead. 

Ahab reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two 
years. He took to wife Jezebel the daughter of the 
king of the Zidonians; and he reared up an altar for 
Baal in Samaria, and did more to provoke the Lord to 
anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 

Elijah the Tishbite said unto Ahab: "As the Lord 
liveth, there shall not be dew nor rain, but according 
to my word." 

The word of the Lord came unto Elijah, saying : " Get 
thee hence, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith. I 
have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." 

So he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith; and 
the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, 



214 The Narrative Bible 

and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of 
the brook. After a while the brook dried up, because 
there was no rain in the land ; and the word of the Lord 
came, saying: "Arise, get thee to Zarephath. I have 
commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." 

So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he 
came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow woman 
was there gathering sticks. He called to her and said: 
" Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water that I may drink." 

As she was going to fetch it, he said : " Bring me, I 
pray thee, a morsel of bread." 

She said : " I have not a cake, but a handful of meal 
in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse : and I am gather- 
ing sticks, that I may prepare a cake for me and my 
son, that we may eat it, and die." 

Elijah said unto her: " Fear not; but make me a little 
cake first, and bring it forth unto me. Afterward make 
for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord: 
* The jar of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse 
of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain on 
the earth/ " 

She went and did according to the saying of Elijah; 
and she, and he, and her household, did eat many days. 
The jar of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil 
fail. 

It came to pass that the son of the woman fell sick; 
and his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left 
in him. Elijah said unto her: " Give me thy son." 



The Later Kings 215 

He took him and carried him up into the chamber, 
where he abode, and laid him on his own bed; and he 
cried unto the Lord, and said: "O Lord, my God, 
hast Thou brought evil on the widow with whom I 
sojourn, by slaying her son ?" 

He stretched himself on the child three times, and 
cried unto the Lord: "O Lord, let this child's soul 
come into him again." 

The Lord hearkened unto the voice of Elijah, and 
the child revived, and Elijah brought him down out 
of the chamber, and delivered him unto his mother. 

The word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third 
year, saying: " Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will 
send rain on the earth." 

The famine was sore in Samaria; and Ahab called 
Obadiah, who was over the household, and said: "Go 
through the land, unto all the fountains of water, and 
unto all the brooks. Perad venture we may find grass 
to save the horses and mules alive." 

They divided the land between them to pass through- 
out it. Ahab went one way, and Obadiah went another 
way. Elijah met Obadiah, and said : " Go, tell thy 
lord: * Elijah is here.'" 

So Obadiah went to Ahab, and told him, and Ahab 
went to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw Elijah he said : 
"Art thou he that troubleth Israel ?" 

Elijah answered: "I have not troubled Israel; but 
thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken 



216 The Narrative Bible 

the commandments of the Lord. Now therefore send, 
and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, and the 
prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, who eat at 
Jezebel's table.'' 

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and 
gathered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel. 
Elijah came near unto the people, and said: "How 
long halt ye between two opinions ? If the Lord be 
God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. I, 
even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's 
prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Give us 
two bullocks, and let them choose one bullock, and cut 
it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire 
under. I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on the 
wood, and put no fire under. Call ye on the name of your 
god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the 
God that answereth by fire, let him be God." 

All the people answered and said : " It is well spoken." 

The prophets of Baal took the bullock which was 
given them, and dressed it, and called on the name of 
Baal from morning until noon, saying: "O Baal, hear 
us." 

But there was no voice, nor any that answered, and 
they leaped about the altar which was made. Elijah 
mocked them, and said: "Cry aloud; for either he is 
talking, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he 
sleepeth, and must be awaked." 



The Later Kings 217 

They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their 
manner with knives and lances, till the blood gushed 
out on them. 

Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number 
of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, and with the stones he 
built an altar. He made a trench about the altar, and 
he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, 
and laid it on the wood, and said: "Fill four jars with 
water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the 
wood." 

He said: "Do it the second time;" and they did it 
the second time. 

He said: "Do it the third time;" and they did it the 
third time. 

The water ran about the altar, and he filled the trench 
also with water; and Elijah said: "O Lord, let it be 
known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that 
I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things 
at Thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me." 

Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the 
burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the 
dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 
When the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and 
they said : " The Lord is God." 

Elijah said unto them: "Take the prophets of Baal. 
Let not one of them escape." 



218 The Narrative Bible 

They took them, and Elijah slew them. Elijah said 
unto Ahab: "Eat and drink; for there is the sound of 
abundance of rain." 

Ahab went to eat and to drink; and Elijah went to 
the top of Carmel, and bowed himself down on the earth, 
and put his face between his knees. He said to his 
servant: " Go now, look toward the sea." 

The servant looked, and said: "There is nothing." 

Elijah said: " Go again," seven times. 

It came to pass at the seventh time, that the servant 
said: "Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as 
small as a man's hand." 

Elijah said : " Go, say unto Ahab : ' Prepare thy 
chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not/ " 

In a little while the heaven grew black with clouds and 
wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and Eli- 
jah girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the 
entrance of Jezreel. 

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how 
he had slain all the prophets. Then Jezebel sent a 
messenger unto Elijah, saying: "So let the gods do to 
me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of 
one of them by tomorrow about this time." 

Then he went for his life to Beer-sheba, and left his 
servant there. But he himself went a day's journey 
into the wilderness, and sat down under a juniper tree; 



The Later Kings 219 

and he requested that he might die. He lay down and 
slept, and, behold, an angel touched him, and said: 
"Arise and eat." 

He looked, and there was at his head a cake baken 
on the coals, and a cruse of water. He did eat and 
drink, and lay down again; and the angel of the Lord 
came the second time, and touched him, and said: 
" Arise and eat." 

He arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the 
strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto 
Horeb the mount of God. He came thither unto a 
cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the Lord passed 
by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, 
and brake in pieces the rocks; but the Lord was not 
in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; 
but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the 
earthquake there was a fire; but the Lord was not in 
the fire. After the fire there was a still small voice. 
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his man- 
tle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the 
cave; and there came a voice unto him, and said: 
" What doest thou here, Elijah ? " 

He said: "The children of Israel have forsaken 
Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy 
prophets with the sword. I only am left, and they seek 
my life to take it away." 

The Lord said: "Return, and Elisha the son of Sha- 
phat shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." 



220 The Narrative Bible 

So Elijah departed thence, and found Elisha plowing, 
with twelve yoke of oxen before him. Elijah cast his 
mantle on him, and Elisha went after Elijah, and minis- 
tered unto him. 

It came to pass after these things, that Naboth the 
Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was hard by the palace 
of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab spake unto Naboth, 
saying: "Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it 
for a garden of herbs, and I will give thee for it a better 
vineyard, or I will give thee the worth of it in money." 

Naboth said to Ahab: "The Lord forbid that I 
should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." 

Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased, 
and he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, 
and would eat no bread. Jezebel his wife came to 
him, and said : " Why is thy spirit so sad ? " 

He said : " Because I spake, unto Naboth, and said : 
* Give me thy vineyard for money, or I will give thee 
another vineyard for it;' and he answered: T will 
not give thee my vineyard.' " 

Jezebel said: "Arise, and eat bread, and let thine 
heart be merry. I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth." 

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them 
with his seal, and sent them unto the nobles that were 
in his city. She wrote, saying: "Proclaim a fast, and 
set Naboth on high among the people; and set two 
men before him, and let them bare witness against him 
saying: 'Thou didst curse God and the king.' Then 
carry him out, and stone him, that he die." 



The Later Kings 221 

The elders and the nobles did according as it was 
written in the letters. They proclaimed a fast, and 
set Naboth on high among the people. Two men came 
and bare witness against him. Then they carried him 
forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that 
he died. When Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, 
she said to Ahab: "Arise, take possession of the vine- 
yard of Naboth; for Naboth is dead." 

Ahab rose to go to the vineyard ; and the word of the 
Lord came to Elijah, saying: "Go to meet Ahab 
king of Israel. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth; 
and thou shalt say : ' Thus saith the Lord : " In the 
place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall 
dogs lick thy blood." 

Ahab said to Elijah: 'Hast thou found me, O mine 
enemy ?" 

Elijah answered: "I have found thee. Behold, 
I will bring evil on thee; and I will make thine 
house like the house of Jeroboam, and like the house 
of Baasha. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs 
shall eat ; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls 
of the air eat." 

It came to pass, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah 
came to the king of Israel; and the king of Israel said 
unto his servants: "Know ye that Ramoth-gilead is 
ours, and we take it not out of the hand of the king of 
Syria?" and he said unto Jehoshaphat: "Wilt thou 
go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead ?" 



222 The Narrative Bible 

Jehoshaphat said: "I am as thou art, my people 
as thy people, my horses as thy horses." 

So the king of Israel and the king of Judah went to 
Ramoth-gilead, and the king of Israel said unto Jehosh- 
aphat: "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; 
but put thou on thy robes." 

The king of Syria had commanded the captains of 
his chariots, saying: "Fight neither with small nor 
great, save only with the king of Israel." 

The captains saw Jehoshaphat, and they turned 
aside to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out. 
When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not 
the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 
A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote 
the king of Israel between the joints of his armor, 
wherefore the king said unto the driver of his chariot: 
" Carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded." 

The battle increased, and the king died at even, and 
there went a cry throughout the host, saying: "Every 
man to his city, and every man to his country." 

The king was brought to Samaria, and buried. 

Jehoshaphat reigned twenty and five years in Jeru- 
salem, doing that which was right in the eyes of the 
Lord; and Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and 
Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 

Ahaziah fell down through the lattice that was in 
his chamber, and he died, and Joram his brother began 
to reign in his stead. 



The Later Kings 223 

It came to pass, that Elijah went with Elisha from 
Gilgal; and Elijah said unto Elisha: "Tarry here, 
I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el." 

Elisha said: "As the Lord liveth, I will not leave 
thee." 

So they went to Beth-el, and Elijah said: "Tarry 
here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho." 

Elisha said: "As the Lord liveth, I will not leave 
thee." 

So they came to Jericho, and Elijah said: "Tarry 
here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan." 

Elisha said: "As the Lord liveth, I will not leave 
thee." 

They went on, and stood by Jordan. Elijah took his 
mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, 
and they were divided hither and thither, so that they 
two went over on dry ground. As they still went on, 
and talked, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, 
and horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind 
into heaven. 

Elisha cried: "My father, my father!" and he saw 
him no more. 

He took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, 
and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and 
he took the mantle of Elijah, and smote the waters, 
and said: "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" 
and the waters were divided, and Elisha went over. 



224 The Narrative Bible 

He went thence unto Beth-el, and there came forth 
young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said: 
" Go up,* thou bald head ! Go up, thou bald head !" 

He looked behind him, and cursed them in the name 
of the Lord; and there came two she-bears out of the 
wood, and tare forty and two lads of them; and he 
went to Samaria. 

There cried a certain woman unto Elisha, saying: 
" My husband is dead, and the creditor is come to take 
my two sons to the bondmen." 

Elisha said : " Tell me ; what hast thou in the house ? " 

She said: "Thine handmaid hath not anything in 
the house, save a pot of oil." 

Then he said : " Go, borrow vessels of all thy neigh- 
bors, even empty vessels. Borrow not a few, and thou 
shalt go in, and shut the door, and pour out into all 
those vessels." 

So she went from him, and her sons brought the ves- 
sels to her, and she poured out. When the vessels were 
full, the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of 
God; and he said: " Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, 
and live thou and thy sons of the rest." 

Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, 
was a great man, and honorable, but he was a leper. 
The Syrians had brought away captive out of the land 
of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman 's 



*They had heard with disbelief that Elijah was "gone up" to 
heaven, and they insultingly bade Elisha to follow him. 



The Later Kings 225 

wife. She said unto her mistress: "Would God my 
lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria. Then 
would he recover of his leprosy." 

Naaman went and told the king: "Thus and thus 
said the maid that is of the land of Israel." 

The king said : " Go, and I will send a letter unto 
the king of Israel, saying: 'Behold, I have sent Naa- 
man, my servant, to thee, that thou mayest recover him 
of his leprosy.' " 

He departed and brought the letter to the king of 
Israel. When the king of Israel had read the letter, he 
rent his clothes, and said: "Am I God, to kill and to 
make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover 
a man of his leprosy ? He seeketh a quarrel against me." 

When Elisha heard that the king had rent his clothes, 
he sent to the king, saying: " Let Naaman come to me." 

So Naaman came with his horses and with his char- 
iots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 
Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying: "Go and 
wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come 
again to thee." 

But Naaman was wroth, and said: "I thought: 'He 
will surely come out to me, and stand and call on his 
God, and wave his hand, and recover the leper.' Are 
not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters 
of Israel ? May I not wash in them, and be clean ? " 

So he turned and went away in a rage ; and his serv- 
ants spake unto him, and said: "If the prophet had 



226 The Narrative Bible 

bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have 
done it? How much rather then, when he saith to 
thee: 'Wash, and be clean ?' " 

Then went he, and dipped seven times in Jordan; 
and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little 
child. He returned to the man of God, he and all his 
company, and stood before him; and he said: "Now 
I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in 
Israel. Therefore, I pray thee, take a present of thy 
servant." 

Elisha said : " As the Lord liveth, I will receive none." 

So Naaman departed; but Gehazi, the servant of 
Elisha said : " I will run after him, and take somewhat 
of him." 

When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he 
alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said : " Is 
all well?" 

Gehazi said: "All is well. My master hath sent me, 
saying: 'Behold, there be come to me two young men 
of the sons of the prophets. Give them, I pray thee, a 
talent* of silver, and two changes of raiment.' ' 

Naaman said: "Take two talents;" and he bound 
two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of 
raiment, and laid them on two of his servants. 

They bare the bags before Gehazi, and he bestowed 
them in the house, and let the men go. He went and 



*A talent of silver was equal to about three thousand shekels, or 
expressed in American money, to about two thousand dollars. 



The Later Kings 227 

stood before his master, and Elisha said: "Whence 
comest thou, Gehazi ?" 

He said : " Thy servant went no whither." 

Elisha said unto him: "Went not mine heart with 
thee, when the man turned from his chariot to meet 
thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive 
garments ? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall 
cleave unto thee;" and Gehazi went out from Elisha' s 
presence a leper as white as snow. 

The sons of the prophets said unto Elisha: "The 
place where we dwell is too strait for us. Let us go 
and take every man a beam, and make us a place where 
we may dwell." 

He answered : " Go ye." 

One said : " I pray thee, go with thy servants." 

He answered : " I will go." 

When they came to Jordan, they cut down wood; 
but as one was felling a beam, the ax-head fell into the 
water, and he cried : " Alas ! it was borrowed." 

The man of God said : " Where fell it ? " 

He showed him the place; and Elisha cut a stick, 
and cast it in thither, and the iron did swim; and he 
said: "Take it up to thee." 

So he put out his hand, and took it. 

The king of Syria warred against Israel; and he 
took counsel with his servants, saying: "In such and 
such a place shall be my camp. " 



228 The Narrative Bible 

The man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying: 
" Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither 
the Syrians are coming." 

The king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; 
and he called his servants, and said : " Will ye not show 
me which of us is for the king of Israel ? " 

One of his servants said: "My lord, Elisha the 
prophet telleth the king of Israel the words that thou 
speakest in thy bedchamber." 

The king said: " Go and see where he is, that I may 
send and fetch him." 

It was told the king, saying: "Behold, he is in Do- 
than." 

Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and 
a great host; and they came by night and compassed 
the city about. When the servant of the man of God 
was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host with 
horses and chariots was round about the city. The 
servant said : " My master ! how shall we do ? " 

Elisha answered: "Fear not; for they that be with 
us are more than they that be with them." 

Elisha prayed, and said: "Lord, open his eyes, that 
he may see." 

The Lord opened the eyes of the young man ; and he 
saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots round 
about Elisha. 

Elisha prayed, and said: "Smite this people with 
blindness." 



The Later Kings 229 

God smote them with blindness, and Elisha said 
unto them: "This is not the city. Follow me, and I 
will bring you to the man whom ye seek." 

He led them to Samaria, and the Lord opened their 
eyes, and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 
The king of Israel said unto Elisha: "Shall I smite 
them?" 

Elisha answered : " Thou shalt not smite them. Set 
bread and water before them, that they may eat and 
drink, and go to their master." 

The king prepared great provision for them; and 
when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away. 

After this, Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his 
host, and besieged Samaria, and there was a great 
famine in Samaria, until an ass's head sold for four- 
score pieces of silver. Elisha sat in his house, and the 
king sent a messenger to him. The messenger came, 
and Elisha said: "Thus saith the Lord: * Tomorrow 
about this time shall a measure of flour be sold for a 
shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in 
the gate of Samaria." 

There were four leprous men at the entering in 
of the gate; and they said one to another: " Why sit we 
here until we die? Let us fall unto the host of the 
Syrians. If they kill us, we shall but die." 

They rose up in the twilight, and when they were 
come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, 
behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had 



230 The Narrative Bible 

made the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise 
of horses, even the noise of a great host; and they said 
one to another: "Lo, the king of Israel hath hired 
against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of 
the Egyptians." 

Wherefore, they arose, and left their tents, and their 
horses, and their asses, and fled for their life. 

When the lepers came to the camp, they went into 
one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence 
silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and 
they came back, and entered into another tent, and car- 
ried thence also, and went and hid it. Then said one 
to another: "We do not well. This day is a day of 
good tidings, and we hold our peace. If we tarry till 
the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now, 
therefore, let us go and tell the king's household." 

So they came and called unto the porters of the city, 
and told them, saying: "We came to the camp of the 
Syrians, and there was no man there, but the horses 
tied, and the asses tied, and the tents as they were." 

The porters told the king's household, and the king 
said unto his servants: "The Syrians know that we 
be hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp 
to hide themselves, saying: ' When they come out of the 
city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.' 

One of his servants answered and said: "Let some 
take five of the horses which are left in the city, and let 
us send and see." 



The Later Kings 231 

They took therefore two chariots with horses, and 
they went unto Jordan; and, lo, all the way was full 
of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast 
away in their haste. The messengers returned, and 
told the king, and the people went out, and spoiled the 
camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was 
sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a 
shekel, according to the word of the Lord. 

Jehoram reigned eight years in Jerusalem, and died, 
and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. 

Joram the son of Ahab went to war against the king 
of Syria at Ramoth-gilead ; and the Syrians wounded 
him. King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel, 
and Ahaziah went to see Joram because he was sick. 

Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the 
prophets, and said unto him: "Take this vial of oil, 
and go to Ramoth-gilead. When thou comest thither, 
look out Jehu the son of Nimshi, and carry him to 
an inner chamber. Then take the vial of oil, and pour 
it on his head, and say: 'Thus saith the Lord: "I have 
anointed thee king over Israel." 

So the young man went to Ramoth-gilead, and, 
behold, the captains of the hosts were sitting; and he 
said to Jehu : " I have an errand to thee, O captain." 

Jehu arose, and went into the house, and the young 
man poured the oil on his head, and said: "Thus 
saith the Lord : ' I have anointed thee king over Israel ; 
and thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, 



232 The Narrative Bible 

that I may avenge the blood of My servants the proph- 
ets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at 
the hand of Jezebel.' " 

Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord, 
and one said unto him: "Wherefore came this mad 
fellow to thee?" 

Jehu said: "He spake to me, saying: 'Thus saith 
the Lord : " I have anointed thee king over Israel." 

Then they hasted, and blew with trumpets, saying: 
" Jehu is king." 

So Jehu conspired against Joram, and rode in a 
chariot to Jezreel. A watchman stood on the tower 
in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he 
came, and said: "I see a company, and the driving 
is like the driving of Jehu; for he driveth furiously." 

Joram king of Israel, and Ahaziah king of Judah, 
went out, each in his chariot, and met Jehu, and Joram 
said : " Is it peace, Jehu ? " 

Jehu answered: "What peace, so long as the witch- 
crafts of thy mother Jezebel are so many ? " 

Joram said to Ahaziah: "There is treachery." 

Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote 
Joram, and Joram sunk down in his chariot. 

Ahaziah fled, and Jehu followed after him, and said : 
"Smite him also." They did so, and he died. 

When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of 
it, and she looked out at the window; and as Jehu 
entered in at the gate hejiftedup his face to the window, 



The Later Kings 233 

and there looked out to him two or three officers, and 
he said: "Throw her down." 

So they threw her down, and he trode her underfoot. 
Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab, all 
his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, 
until he left him none remaining. 

Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto 
them : " Ahab served Baal a little ; but Jehu shall serve 
him much. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets 
of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; for I 
have a great sacrifice to do to Baal." 

Jehu sent through all Israel, and all the worshippers 
of Baal came, and the house of Baal was filled from one 
end to another. Jehu had appointed fourscore men 
without, and as soon as he had made an end of 
offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard: 
" Go in, and slay them. Let none come forth." 

They smote them with the edge of the sword, and 
thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. But Jehu 
took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord with all 
his heart; and Jehu slept with his fathers, and they 
buried him, and Jehoahaz his son reigned. 

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that 
her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed 
royal. But Jehosheba, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash 
the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away, so that he was 
not slain. He was with her hid in the house of the Lord 
six years; and Athaliah reigned over the land. In the 



234 The Narrative Bible 

seventh year . Johoida the priest fetched the captains 
of the guard into the house of the Lord, and made a 
covenant with them. Then he brought out the king's 
son, and put the crown on him, and they clapped their 
hands, and said: " God save the king." 

When Athaliah heard the noise, she came into the 
temple of the Lord; and she looked, and, behold, the 
captains by the king, and all the people of the land 
rejoiced, and blew with trumpets. Then Athaliah 
cried: "Treason, treason!" and she went to the king's 
house, and there she was slain. 

Joash reigned forty years; and his servants made a 
conspiracy, and smote Joash, and he died, and Amaziah 
his son reigned in his stead. 

Jehoahaz the son of Jehu reigned over Israel seven- 
teen years; and Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and 
Jehoash his son reigned in his stead. 

Now Elisha was fallen sick, and Jehoash came, and 
wept over him. Elisha said: "Take bow and arrows." 

He took unto him bow and arrows, and Elisha said : 
" Open the window eastward." 

He opened it. Then Elisha said: "Shoot;" and he 
shot. 

Elisha said : " The Lord's arrow of victory, even the 
arrow of victory over Syria;" and he said: "Take the 
arrows, and smite on the ground." 

The king smote thrice, and stayed; and the man of 
God was wroth with him, and said: "Thou shouldest 



The Later Kings 235 

have smitten five or six times. Then hadst thou smitten 
Syria till thou hadst consumed it. Whereas now thou 
shalt smite Syria but thrice." 

Jehoash took out of the hand of the king of Syria the 
cities of Israel which he had taken. Three times did 
Jehoash smite him, and Jehoash died, and Jeroboam 
his son reigned in his stead. 

Amaziah reigned in Jerusalem, and they made a 
conspiracy against him, and slew him. The people 
took Azariah, and made him king in the room of his 
father. 

Jeroboam reigned in Samaria forty and one years, 
and Jeroboam slept with his fathers, and Zachariah 
his son reigned in his stead. 

Azariah reigned in Jerusalem, and he did that which 
was right. Howbeit the people still sacrificed and burnt 
incense on the high places; and the Lord smote the 
king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, 
and Azariah slept with his fathers, and Jotham his 
son reigned in his stead. 

Zachariah reigned in Samaria six months, and 
Shallum the son of Jabesh slew him, and reigned in his 
stead. Shallum reigned the space of a month, and 
Menahem the son of Gadi slew him and reigned in his 
stead. Menahem did that which was evil in the sight of 
the Lord, and Menahem died. Pekahiah his son reigned 
two years, and Pekah his captain conspired against him, 
and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Pekah reigned 



236 The Narrative Bible 

twenty years, and Hoshea the son of Elah slew him, and 
reigned in his stead. 

Jotham reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and 
Jotham slept with his fathers, and Ahaz his son 
reigned. Ahaz did that which was right, and Ahaz 
slept with his fathers, and Hezekiah his son reigned. 

Hoshea reigned over Israel. Against him came the 
king of Assyria, and took Samaria, and carried Israel 
away into Assyria, and he brought men from Babylon, 
and from Cuthah, and from Hamath, and placed them 
in the cities of Samaria. 

Hezekiah reigned in Jerusalem, and he did that 
which was right, according to all that David his father 
had done. He removed the high places, and he brake 
in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; 
for the children of Israel did burn incense to it. He 
clave to the Lord, and the Lord was with him. Whither- 
soever he went forth he prospered; and he rebelled 
against the king of Assyria, and served him not. 

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah did Sen- 
nacherib king of Assyria come against all the fortified 
cities of Judah, and took them, and sent a great host 
against Jerusalem. When the host was come, one of 
the captains stood, and cried with a loud voice: "Hear 
ye the word of the king of Assyria. Thus saith the 
king : ' Make your peace with me, that ye may live, and 
not die. Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he per- 
suadeth you, saying: " The Lord will deliver us." Hath 



The Later Kings 237 

any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land 
out of the hand of the king of Assyria ?' " 

King Hezekiah rent his clothes, and covered himself 
with sackcloth,* and he sent Eliakim, who was over 
the household, and the elders of the priests to Isaiah 
the prophet. They said unto him: "Thus saith Heze- 
kiah: 'This is a day of trouble. Wherefore lift up thy 
prayer.' " 

Isaiah said: "Say to your master: ' Thus saith the 
Lord : " Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, 
wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have 
blasphemed Me. Behold, he shall hear tidings, and 
shall return to his own land." 

It came to pass, that the angel of the Lord went forth, 
and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred 
fourscore and five thousand. So Sennacherib king of 
Assyria returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death; and 
Isaiah the prophet came to him and said: "Thus 
saith the Lord : ' Set thine house in order; for thou shalt 
die.' " 

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and 
prayed, saying: "Remember now, O Lord, I beseech 
Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with 



*A coarse, dark, goat-hair cloth used for making sacks. Garments 
of this material were worn by mourners to manifest their grief. They 
were usually put on over the ordinary clothing, but in extreme 
cases next to the skin. 



238 The Narrative Bible 

a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in 
Thy sight." 

Hezekiah wept sore, and before Isaiah was gone out 
of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, 
saying: "Turn again, and tell Hezekiah: 'Thus saith 
the Lord : " I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy 
tears. Behold, I will heal thee. On the third day thou 
shalt go up unto the house of the Lord, and I will 
add unto thy days fifteen years." 

Hezekiah said unto Isaiah: "What shall be the sign 
that the Lord will heal me ?" 

Isaiah said: "This shall be the sign;" and he cried 
unto the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten 
degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the 
dial. 

The son of the king of Babylon sent letters and a 
present unto Hezekiah, and Hezekiah showed the messen- 
gers all the house of his precious things, the silver, and 
the gold, and the spices, and all that was in his treasures. 
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto King Hezekiah, 
and said: "Behold, the days come, that all that is in 
thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in 
store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Noth- 
ing shall be left." 

Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his 
son reigned in his stead. Manasseh did that which 
was evil, and he died, and Amon his son reigned. 
The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put 



The Later Kings 239 

the king to death. But the people made Josiah his son 
king. Josiah walked in all the way of David. Not- 
withstanding the Lord turned not from the fierceness 
of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled 
against Judah, because of all the provocations that 
Manasseh had provoked him withal; and the Lord 
said : " I will remove Judah out of my sight, as I have 
removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have 
chosen." 

The king of Egypt went against the king of Assyria, 
and King Josiah went against him, and was slain. 
His servants carried him in a chariot dead to Jerusalem, 
and buried him in his own sepulchre; and the people 
took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king 
in his father's stead. 

Jehoahaz reigned three months, and Pharaoh put 
him in bonds, and made Jehoiakim the son of Josiah 
king. Jehoiakim reigned eleven years. In his days 
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, and Jehoiakim 
became his servant three years. Then he rebelled 
against him. Jehoiakim died, and Jehoiachin his 
son reigned. At that time Nebuchadnezzar came against 
Jerusalem, and the city was besieged; and Jehoiachin 
went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, 
and his servants, and his officers; and the king of Baby- 
lon carried thence all the treasures of the house of the 
Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and all 



240 The Narrative Bible 

the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, and all 
the craftsmen. None remained, save the poorest sort 
of the people. 

Nebuchadnezzar madeZedekiah, Jehoiachin's brother, 
king over Judah. Zedekiah did that which was evil. 
He humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, 
and he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. Moreover 
all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, transgressed 
very greatly, until the wrath of the Lord arose against 
His people. Therefore He brought on them the king 
of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men, burnt 
the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, 
and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire. Them that 
escaped from the sword the king of the Chaldeans carried 
away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his 
sons. 



XVI 



THE STORY OF JONAH 



THE word of the Lord came unto Jonah, saying: 
" Go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against 
it; for its wickedness is come up before Me." 

But Jonah rose up to flee from the presence of the 
Lord ; and he went to Joppa, and found a ship going to 
Tarshish. So he paid the fare, and went into it; but 
the Lord sent a great wind, and there was a mighty 
tempest, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then 
the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his 
god ; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship 
into the sea, to lighten it. 

Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of 
the ship, and he lay fast asleep. The shipmaster came 
to him, and said: "What meanest thou, O sleeper? 
Arise, call on thy God, that we perish not." 

They said every one to his fellow: "Let us cast lots, 
that we may know for whose cause this evil is on us." 

So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then 
said they unto him: "Tell us, we pray thee, what is 
thine occupation ? and whence comest thou ? " 

He said: "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, 
who hath made the sea and the dry land." 



242 The Narrative Bible 

Then the men said unto him: "What is this thou 
hast done ? " For the men knew that he had fled from 
the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 

Then said they unto him: "What shall we do, that 
the sea may be calm ? " 

He said: "Take me up, and cast me forth into the 
sea. So shall the sea be calm. For I know that for my 
sake this great tempest is on you." 

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get to the land; 
but they could not. Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, 
and said : " We beseech Thee, O Lord, let us not perish 
for this man's sake." 

So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the 
sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men 
feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice 
unto the Lord, and made vows. 

The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah; 
and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and 
three nights. Then Jonah prayed unto his God out of 
the fish's belly; and the Lord spake unto the fish, and 
it vomited out Jonah on the dry land. 

The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second 
time, saying: "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great 
city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." 

So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, and he 
cried, and said: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall 
be overthrown." 



The Story of Jonah 243 

The people of Nineveh believed God, and they pro- 
claimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest 
of them even to the least of them ; and the king of Nine- 
veh made proclamation, saying: "Let neither man 
nor beast taste anything — let them not feed, nor drink 
water; but let them cry mightily unto God; yea, let 
them turn every one from his evil way. Who knoweth 
whether God will not repent, that we perish not ?" 

God saw that they turned from their evil way; and 
God repented of the evil, which He said He would do 
unto them; and He did it not. But this displeased 
Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Then Jonah 
went out of the city, and made him a booth, and sat 
under it, till he might see what would become of the city; 
and the Lord prepared a gourd, and made it to come 
up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head. 
Jonah was exceeding glad because of the gourd. But 
God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next 
day, and it smote the gourd, that it withered. It came 
to pass when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry 
east wind, and the sun beat on the head of Jonah, that 
he fainted, and wished in himself to die. 

God said to Jonah: "Doest thou well to be angry 
for the gourd ?" 

He said: "I do well to be angry even unto death." 

The Lord said: "Thou hast had pity on the gourd, 
for the which thou hast not labored, neither madest it 
grow, which came up in a night, and perished in a night; 
and should not I have pity on Nineveh, that great city ? " 



XVII 



DANIEL IN BABYLON 



IN the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebu- 
chadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and 
besieged it; and the Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand. 
Nebuchadnezzar spake unto the master of his officers, 
that he should bring in certain of the children of 
Israel, youths in whom was no blemish, and skilful 
in wisdom, and that he should teach them the learning 
of the Chaldeans. The king appointed for them a daily 
portion of the king's meat, and of the wine which he 
drank, and that they should be nourished three years. 
Among these youths were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, 
and Azariah; and the prince of the officers gave names 
unto them. Unto Daniel he gave the name of Belte- 
shazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mi- 
shael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.* 
Daniel requested that he might not defile himself with 
the king's meat, nor with the wine which the king drank. 



*Their original names all had a meaning connected with God. 
Daniel, for instance, meant, "God my Judge." Their new names 
were compounded from the names of the idols of Babylon, and 
intimated that a change was desired and expected in the young men's 
religion. 



Daniel in Babylon 245 

The prince of the officers said unto Daniel : " I fear 
the king, who hath appointed your meat and your 
drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking 
than the youths which are of your own age ? So shall 
ye endanger my head with the king." 

Then said Daniel: "Prove thy servants, I beseech 
thee, ten days; and give us pulse* to eat, and water to 
drink. Then let our countenances be looked on before 
thee; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants." 

He consented to them in this matter, and proved them 
ten days. At the end of ten days their countenances 
appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all 
the youths that did eat of the king's meat. So the 
steward took away their meat, and the wine, and 
gave them pulse. As for these four youths, God 
gave them skill in all learning and wisdom ; and Daniel 
had understanding in visions and dreams. At the end 
of the days which the king had appointed, the prince of 
the officers brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar, 
and the king communed with them. 

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed, and his spirit was troubled. 
Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and 
the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans;! and the king said 
unto them: "I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit 
is troubled." 



*Daniel asked for vegetable instead of animal food. Pulse means 
leguminous seeds such as peas and beans. 

tThe Chaldeans were much addicted to the study of the stars, and 
the word Chaldeans is here equivalent to astrologers. 



246 The Narrative Bible 

Then spake the Chaldeans: "O king, live forever. 
Tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the 
interpretation." 

The king answered: "The thing is gone from me. 
If ye make not known unto me the dream and the inter- 
pretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces. But if ye 
show the dream and the interpretation, ye shall receive 
gifts and great honor." 

The Chaldeans said: "There is not a man on the 
earth that can show the king's matter." 

For this cause the king was very furious, and com- 
manded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision 
of the night. Therefore Daniel went unto Arioch, 
whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men 
of Babylon, and said: "Bring me in before the king, 
and I will show the interpretation." 

Arioch brought Daniel before the king in haste, and 
the king said to Daniel : " Art thou able to make known 
unto me the dream which I have seen ? " 

Daniel answered: "The secret which the king hath 
demanded cannot wise men, enchanters, magicians, 
nor soothsayers, show unto the king; but there is a God 
in heaven that revealeth secrets, and He hath made 
known to the king what shall be in the latter days. 
Thou, O king, sawest a great image. This image 
stood before thee, and the aspect thereof was terrible. 
His head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of 



Daniel in Babylon 247 

silver, his body and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, 
his feet part of iron, and part of clay. Thou sawest 
a stone, which smote the image on his feet, and brake 
them in pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the 
brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces, and 
became like chaff, and the wind carried them away; 
and the stone that smote the image became a great 
mountain, and filled the whole earth. 

"This is the dream; and we will tell the interpreta- 
tion. Thou, O king, art king of kings. Thou art the 
head of gold. After thee shall arise another kingdom 
inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of brass, 
which shall bear rule over all the earth. The fourth 
kingdom shall be strong as iron. Whereas thou sawest 
the feet and toes, part of clay, and part of iron, it shall 
be a divided kingdom; and in the days of those kings 
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall 
never be destroyed; but it shall break in pieces and 
consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." 

Then the king fell on his face, and worshipped Daniel, 
and commanded that they should offer an oblation and 
sweet odors unto him. The king made Daniel great, 
and gave him many gifts, and made him chief governor 
over all the wise men of Babylon; and he appointed 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs 
of the province of Babylon. 

Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose 
height was threescore cubits, and he set it up in the 



248 The Narrative Bible 

plain of Dura. Then the king sent to gather the depu- 
ties, the judges, the counsellors, and all the rulers of 
the provinces to the dedication of the image. They 
stood before the image, and the herald cried : " To you 
it is commanded, O people, that at what time ye hear 
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, psaltery, and all 
kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden 
image; and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth 
shall be cast into the midst of a fiery furnace." 

Therefore the people fell down and worshipped the 
golden image. Certain Chaldeans said to Nebuchad- 
nezzar : " O king, the Jews whom thou hast appointed 
over the affairs of the province of Babylon have not re- 
garded thee. They serve not thy gods, nor worship the 
golden image which thou hast set up." 

Nebuchadnezzar commanded to bring Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abed-nego, and said unto them: "Is 
it true that ye serve not my gods, nor worship the golden 
image which I have set up ? If ye worship not, ye shall 
be cast into the midst of a fiery furnace." 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered: 
"O Nebuchadnezzar, our God whom we serve will 
deliver us out of thine hand. We will not serve thy 
gods, nor worship the golden image." 

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and he com- 
manded that they should heat the furnace seven times 
more than it was wont to be heated ; and he commanded 
the most mighty men that were in his army to bind 



Daniel in Babylon 249 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them 
into the fiery furnace. Because the furnace was ex- 
ceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that 
took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and cast 
them into the midst of the furnace. 

Nebuchadnezzar said unto his counsellors: "Did 
not we cast three men bound into the fire ? Lo, I see 
four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and 
they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like 
a son of the gods." 

Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the fiery 
furnace, and said: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth." 

They came forth out of the fire, and the deputies, 
and the governors, and the king's counsellors saw 
that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was 
the hair of their heads singed, nor had the smell of fire 
passed on their garments. Nebuchadnezzar said: 
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered 
His servants that trusted in Him. Therefore I make a 
decree, that every people which speaks anything amiss 
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 
shall be cut in pieces." 

Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in his house, and he saw 
a dream which made him afraid ; and he made a decree 
to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before him, 
that they might make known the interpretation of 



250 The Narrative Bible 

the dream. Then came in the magicians, the enchanters 
and the soothsayers, and he told the dream; but they 
did not make known the interpretation. At the last 
Daniel came, whose name was Belteshazzar, and the 
king told the dream before him, saying: "O Belte- 
shazzar, master of the magicians, I saw a tree, and 
the tree grew, and was strong, and the height reached 
unto heaven. The leaves were fair, and the fruit much. 
The beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the 
fowls of heaven dwelt in the branches, and all flesh 
was fed of it; and, behold, a holy one came down from 
heaven. He cried aloud, and said: 'Hew down the 
tree, and cut off the branches, shake off the leaves, and 
scatter the fruit. Nevertheless leave the stump in the 
earth; and let it be wet with the dew, and let seven 
times* pass over it.' This dream I King Nebuchad- 
nezzar have seen; and thou O Belteshazzar, declare 
the interpretation." 

Then Daniel said: "My lord, the tree thou sawest 
is thou, O king; for thy greatness reacheth unto heaven, 
and thy dominion to the end of the earth. Whereas the 
king saw a holy one coming down, and saying: 'Hew 
down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the 
stump in the earth, and let it be wet with the dew till 
seven times pass;' it is the decree of the Most High, 
that thou shalt be driven from among men, and thy 

*Years. 



Daniel in Babylon 251 

dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou 
shalt eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew 
of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till 
thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom 
of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will." 

At the end of twelve months Nebuchadnezzar was 
walking in the palace. The king said: "Is not this 
great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwell- 
ing place, and for the glory of my majesty ?" 

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell 
a voice from heaven, saying: "O King Nebuchadnez- 
zar, the kingdom is departed from thee." 

The same hour was Nebuchadnezzar driven from 
men, and he did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet 
with the dew till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, 
and his nails like birds' claws. At the end of the days 
Nebuchadnezzar's understanding returned, and he 
blessed the Most High, and was established in his 
kingdom. 

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand 
of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 
Belshazzar commanded to bring the golden and silver 
vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken 
out of the temple in Jerusalem; and the king and his 
lords and his wives drank in them, and praised the gods 
of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of 
stone. In the same hour came forth the fingers of a 
man's hand, and wrote on the wall of the king's palace. 



252 The Narrative Bible 

Then the king's thoughts troubled him, and his knees 
smote one against another. The king cried aloud to 
bring in the enchanters and the soothsayers. The king 
said to the wise men of Babylon: "Whosoever shall 
read this writing, and show me the interpretation, 
shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold 
about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the 
kingdom." 

But they could not read the writing, and the queen 
said: "O king, there is a man in thy kingdom, in 
whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and the king Nebu- 
chadnezzar thy father made him master of the magi- 
cians. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the 
interpretation." 

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The 
king said: "If thou canst read the writing, and make 
known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be 
clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about 
thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom." 

Daniel answered: "Give thy rewards to another. 
Nevertheless I will read the writing unto the king, 
and make known the interpretation. O thou king, 
the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father 
the kingdom. But when his heart was lifted up that he 
dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, 
and his dwelling was with the wild asses. He was 
fed with grass like oxen, till he knew that God ruled 
in the kingdom of men. Thou his son, O Belshazzar, 



Daniel in Babylon 253 

hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest 
all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of 
heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His 
house before thee, and thou and thy lords and thy wives 
have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the 
gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, 
which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in 
whose hand thy breath is, hast thou not glorified. 
Then this writing was written, mene, mene, tekel, 
upharsin. This is the interpretation: mene; God 
hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end. 
tekel; thou art weighed in the balances, and found 
wanting, peres; * thy kingdom is divided, and given 
to the Medes and Persians." 

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed 
Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his 
neck, and made proclamation that he should be the 
third ruler in the kingdom. That night Belshazzar was 
slain, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom. 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred 
and twenty satraps; and over them three presidents, 
of whom Daniel was one, and the king thought to set 
him over the whole realm. The presidents and the 
satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel; but 
they could find none. Then said these men: "We 



♦Me'ne, Te'kel, U phar'sin are literally translated: numbered, 
weighed, divisions. Pe'res is an abbreviation of the word Upharsin. 



254 The Narrative Bible 

shall not find any occasion against Daniel, except we 
find it concerning the law of his God." 

They assembled together to the king, and said: 
"The presidents and the satraps, the counsellors and 
the governors, have consulted together to establish a 
royal statute, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any 
god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall 
be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish 
the decree, and sign the writing." 

Wherefore King Darius signed the writing. When 
Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into 
his house ; and the windows being open in his chamber 
toward Jerusalem, he kneeled three times a day, and 
prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he 
did aforetime. These men found Daniel making 
supplication before his God, and they spake before the 
king: "Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man 
that shall make a petition unto any god or man, save 
unto thee, shall be cast into the den of lions ? " 

The king answered : " The thing is true, according to 
the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not." 

Then they said : " Daniel regardeth thee not, O king." 

The king, when he heard these words, was sore 
displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; 
and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue 
him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and 
said : " Know, O king, that no statute which the king 
establisheth may be changed." 



Daniel in Babylon 255 

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, 
and cast him into the den of lions. The king went to 
his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were 
instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep 
fled from him. The king arose very early in the morn- 
ing, and went in haste unto the den of lions; and when 
he came near he cried with a lamentable voice : " Daniel, 
O Daniel, is thy God able to deliver thee from the 
lions?" 

Then said Daniel: "O king, my God hath sent His 
angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have 
not hurt me." 

Then was the king exceeding glad, and Daniel was 
taken out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found 
on him. The king commanded, and they brought 
those men that had accused Daniel, and cast them 
into the den of lions, them, their children, and their 
wives; and the lions brake all their bones in pieces, 
or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 

Then King Darius wrote unto all peoples that dwell 
on the earth: "Peace be multiplied unto you. I make 
a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men 
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for He is 
the living God, and steadfast for ever, and His dominion 
shall be even unto the end." 



XVIII 



QUEEN ESTHER 



IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, who reigned 
from India even unto Ethiopia, that the king made 
a feast unto all his princes and his servants, and he 
showed the riches of his glorious kingdom a hundred 
and fourscore days. When these days were expired, 
the king made a feast unto all the people that were 
present in Shushan the palace seven days, in the court 
of the garden of the king's palace. On the seventh day, 
when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he 
commanded to bring Vashti the queen before the king 
with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes 
her beauty; for she was fair to look on. But the queen 
Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment. 
Therefore was the king very wroth. Then the king 
said: "What shall we do unto the queen Vashti, be- 
cause she hath not done the bidding of the king ? " 

Memucan, one of the chamberlains, answered: 
"Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king 
only; for this deed shall come abroad unto all women, 
to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes. 
If it please the king, let there go forth a royal command- 
ment that Vashti come no more before King Ahasueras ; 



Queen Esther 257 

and let the king give her royal estate unto another that 
is better than she. When the king's decree shall be 
published, all the wives shall give to their husbands 
honor." 

The saying pleased the king and the princes; and 
the king sent letters into all the provinces, that every 
man should bear rule in his own house. 

Then said the king's servants that ministered unto 
him : " Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces 
of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the 
fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house 
of the women, unto Hegai the king's chamberlain, and 
let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead 
of Vashti." 

The king did so. 

There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, 
whose name was Mordecai, who had been carried away 
from Jerusalem with the captives whom Nebuchad- 
nezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. He 
brought up Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had 
neither father nor mother, and the maid was beauti- 
ful. So when the king's commandment was heard, and 
many maidens were gathered unto the palace, Esther 
was brought unto the king's house, to the custody of 
Hegai, keeper of the women. The maiden pleased him, 
and she obtained kindness of him; and he removed her 
and her maidens to the best place of the house of the 
women; and Mordecai walked every day before the 



258 The Narrative Bible 

court of the women's house to know how Esther did, 
and what should become of her. 

When the turn of Esther was come to go in unto the 
king, she obtained favor in the sight of all them that 
looked on her; and the king loved Esther above all 
the women, so that he set the royal crown on her head, 
and made her queen instead of Vashti. Esther had not 
yet shown her kindred nor her people; for Mordecai 
had charged her that she should not. 

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's 
gate, two of the king's chamberlains sought to lay 
hands on King Ahasuerus. The thing was known to 
Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen, and 
Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 
When inquisition was made, the chamberlains were 
both hanged. 

After these things did King Ahasuerus promote 
Haman the Agagite, and set his seat above all the princes 
that were with him. All the king's servants bowed 
down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had 
so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed 
not down, nor did him reverence. Then the king's 
servants said unto Mordecai: "Why transgressest 
thou the king's commandment ? " 

When they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened 
not, they told Haman. Then was Haman full of wrath. 
But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone, 
and sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole 



Queen Esther 259 

kingdom. Haman said unto King Ahasuerus : "There 
is a certain people dispersed among the provinces of 
thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those 
of every people. Neither keep they the king's laws. 
Therefore, if it please the king, let it be written that 
they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents 
of silver into the king's treasuries." 

The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it 
unto Haman, and said: "Do with the people as it 
seemeth good to thee." 

Then were the king's scribes called in, and there 
was written according to all that Haman commanded 
unto the governors that were over every province, and 
to every people after their language. In the name of 
King Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with 
the king's ring. Letters were sent into all the king's 
provinces to slay all Jews, both young and old, little 
children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth 
day of the twelfth month, and to take the spoil of them 
for a prey. The posts went forth in haste, and the 
decree was given out in Shushan the palace; and the 
king and Haman sat down to drink. 

When Mordecai knew all that was done, he rent his 
clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went 
out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and 
a bitter cry; and in every province there was great 
mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, 
and wailing. Esther's maids and her chamberlains 



260 The Narrative Bible 

told her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved. Then 
called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamber- 
lains, whom he had appointed to attend on her, and 
charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, 
and why it was. 

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai, and Mordecai 
told him of all that had happened, and the exact sum 
of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's 
treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave 
him the copy of the decree that was given out, to show 
unto Esther, and to charge her that she should go in 
unto the king, to make supplication for her people. 

Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 
Then Esther gave him a message unto Mordecai, say- 
ing: "Whosoever shall come unto the king into the 
inner court, who is not called, is put to death, except 
such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre. 
I have not been called to come in unto the king these 
thirty days." 

They told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mor- 
decai commanded them to answer Esther: "Who 
knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom 
for such a time as this?" 

Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer: 
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in 
Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink 
three days, night or day. I also and my maidens will 



Queen Esther 261 

fast likewise; and I will go in unto the king, and if I 
perish, I perish." 

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to 
all that Esther had commanded him. 

On the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, 
and stood in the inner court of the king's house, and the 
king sat on his royal throne. When the king saw Esther 
the queen, she obtained favor in his sight, and the king 
held out the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So 
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 
Then said the king unto her: "What wilt thou, Queen 
Esther? and what is thy request? It shall be given 
thee even to the half of the kingdom." 

Esther answered : " If it seem good unto the king, let 
the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet 
that I have prepared." 

The king said : " Cause Haman to make haste, that 
it may be done as Esther hath said." 

So the king and Haman came to the banquet, and 
the king said unto Esther : " What is thy petition ? " 

Then answered Esther: "If it please the king, let 
the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall 
prepare for them tomorrow." 

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad 
of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's 
gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he was 
filled with wrath. Haman went home, and he fetched 
his friends and Zeresh his wife, and told them of the 



262 The Narrative Bible 

glory of his riches, and all the things wherein the king 
had promoted him. Haman said moreover: "Esther 
the queen did let no man come in with the king unto 
the banquet that she had prepared but myself. Tomorrow 
also am I invited by her together with the king. Yet 
all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai 
the Jew sitting at the king's gate." 

Then said Zeresh and all his friends : " Let a gallows 
be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak 
thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged 
thereon. Then go thou merrily with the king unto the 
banquet." 

The thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows 
to be made. 

On that night the king could not sleep, and he com- 
manded to bring the records. They were read before 
the king, and it was found written that Mordecai had 
told of two of the chamberlains who had sought to 
lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. The king said: 
"What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai 
for this?" 

Then said the king's servants: "There is nothing 
done for him." 

The king said : " Who is in the court ? " 

Now Haman was come into the outward court of 
the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mor- 
decai on the gallows that he had prepared. The king's 
servants said: "Behold, Haman standeth in the court." 



Queen Esther 263 

The king said : " Let him come in." 

So Haman came in, and the king said : " What shall 
be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to 
honor?" 

Haman said in his heart : " To whom would the king 
delight to do honor more than to myself ?" and Haman 
answered the king: "For the man whom the king de- 
lighteth to honor, let royal apparel be brought which 
the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king 
rideth on, and the crown royal; and let the apparel and 
the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's 
most noble princes, that they may array the man withal 
and cause him to ride through the city, and proclaim 
before him : ' Thus shall it be done to the man whom 
the king delighteth to honor.' " 

The king said to Haman: "Make haste, and take 
the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do 
even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sittest at the king's 
gate. Let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken." 

Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and 
arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the 
city, and proclaimed before him: "Thus shall it be 
done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor." 

Mordecai came again to the king's gate; but 
Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his 
head covered. Haman told his wife and his friends 
everything that had befallen him. While they were 



264 The Narrative Bible 

talking, came the king's chamberlains to bring Haman 
unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther 
the queen, and the king said again : " What is thy peti- 
tion, Queen Esther ? Even to the half of the kingdom 
it shall be granted thee." 

Then Esther answered: "If I have found favor in 
thy sight, O king, let my life be given me at my petition, 
and my people at my request; for we are sold, I and 
my people, to be destroyed." 

Then spake the King Ahasuerus and said: "Who is 
he that durst presume to do so ? " 

Esther said: "An enemy, even this wicked Haman." 

The king arose in his wrath and went into the palace 
garden, and Haman stood up to make request for his 
life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was 
evil determined against him by the king. Then the 
king returned out of the garden into the place of the 
banquet. One of the chamberlains said: "Behold, 
the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made 
for Mordecai, standeth in the house of Haman." 

The king said : " Hang him thereon." 

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had 
prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath 
pacified; and Mordecai came before the king; for 
Esther had told what he was unto her. The king took 
off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and 
gave it unto Mordecai; and Esther spake again before 



Queen Esther 265 

the king, and fell at his feet, and besought him with 
tears to put away the mischief Haman had devised 
against the Jews. 

The king held out toward Esther the golden sceptre. 
So Esther arose, and stood before the king, and she said : 
"How can I endure to see the destruction of my kin- 
dred?" 

The king said unto Esther the queen, and to Mor- 
decai: "Write ye to the Jews, as it liketh you, in the 
king's name, and seal it with the king's ring." 

Then were the king's scribes called, and it was written 
according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the 
Jews, and the governors and princes of the provinces, 
and unto every people after their language. He wrote 
in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the 
king's ring, and sent letters by posts riding on swift 
steeds that were used in the king's service. The king 
granted the Jews that were in every city to gather to- 
gether, and to stand for their life to cause to perish all 
that would assault them, and to take the spoil of them 
for a prey, one day, namely, on the thirteenth day of 
the twelfth month. 

Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king 
in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great 
crown of gold, and the city of Shushan shouted and was 
glad. 

In the twelfth month, on the thirteenth day, the Jews 
gathered together to lay hands on such as sought their 



266 The Narrative Bible 

hurt; and all the princes of the provinces, and they that 
did the king's business, helped the Jews; because the 
fear of Mordecai was fallen on them; for Mordecai 
was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth 
throughout all the provinces. The Jews smote their 
enemies, and in Shushan the palace slew five hundred 
men. Then said Esther: "If it please the king, let 
it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do 
tomorrow according unto this day's decree." 

The king commanded it so to be done; and the Jews 
that were in Shushan gathered on the fourteenth day, 
and slew three hundred men. 

The Jews in the provinces slew of their foes seventy 
and five thousand. This was done on the thirteenth day 
of the month; and on the fourteenth day they rested, 
and made it a day of feasting and gladness. But the 
Jews that were in Shushan made the fifteenth day a 
day of feasting and gladness. 



XIX 



THE RETURN FROM THE CAPTIVITY 

THE Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of 
Persia, that he made a proclamation, saying: 
" Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia : * All the kingdoms 
of the earth hath the Lord given me, and He hath 
charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem. Who- 
soever there is among you of His people, let him go to 
Jerusalem, and build the house of the Lord.' : 

Then rose up the leaders of Judah and Benjamin, 
and the priests, and the Levites; and all they that were 
round about them strengthened their hands with 
vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts. 
Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the 
house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought 
out of Jerusalem; and the children of Israel gathered 
themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. They 
gave money unto the masons, and to the carpenters; 
and meat, and drink, unto them of Sidon, and to them 
of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, 
unto Joppa; and appointed the Levites, from twenty 
years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work 
of the house of the Lord. When the builders laid the 
foundation of the temple, the priests stood in their 



268 The Narrative Bible 

apparel with trumpets, and the Levites with cymbals, 
to praise the Lord ; and they sang one to another giving 
thanks unto the Lord, saying: "For he is good, for his 
mercy endureth forever toward Israel." 

But many of the old men that had seen the first house 
wept, and many shouted for joy. 

When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard 
that the children of the captivity builded a temple unto 
the Lord, they troubled them in building, and hired 
counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose; 
and in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, wrote a 
letter against Jerusalem. This is the letter: "Be it 
known unto the king, that the Jews are building the 
rebellious and bad city. If this city be builded, and 
the walls finished, they will not pay tribute. Now 
because it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, 
therefore have we certified the king, that search may 
be made in the records of thy fathers. So shalt thou 
find that this is a rebellious city, for which cause was 
this city destroyed." 

Then sent the king an answer: "The letter which 
ye sent hath been read before me, and search hath been 
made, and it is found that this city of old time hath 
made insurrection, and that rebellion and sedition have 
been made therein. There have been mighty kings 
also over Jerusalem. Make ye now a decree to cause 
these men to cease, and that this city be not builded." 



The Return from the Captivity 269 

Then ceased the work on the house of God unto 
the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia, 
when Darius made a decree : " Let the governor of the 
Jews and the elders of the Jews build the house of God 
at Jerusalem. Moreover I make a decree that of the 
king's goods expenses be given unto these men, that 
they be not hindered. That which they have need of, 
both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for burnt 
offerings, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the 
word of the priests, let it be given them day by day 
without fail, that they may offer sacrifices of sweet 
savor unto the God of heaven.' ' 

Then the elders of the Jews builded and prospered, 
and this house was finished, and the children of Israel 
kept the dedication with joy. 



XX 



THE LIFE OF JESUS 



THERE was in the days of Herod king of Judeea 
a certain priest named Zacharias; and he had a 
wife named Elisabeth. They were both righteous, 
walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless ; 
but they had no child, and they were now well advanced 
in years. 

It came to pass, while Zacharias executed the priest's 
office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord 
and burn incense, and the whole multitude of the people 
were praying without; and there appeared unto him 
an angel of the Lord. Zacharias was troubled, and fear 
fell on him. But the angel said: "Fear not Zacharias. 
Thy wife shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name 
John; and thou shalt have joy and gladness, for he 
shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall be 
filled with the Holy Spirit, and many of the children of 
Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God." 

Zacharias said unto the angel: "Whereby shall I 
know this ? " 

The angel said: " I am Gabriel, and am sent to bring 
thee these glad tidings. Behold, thou shalt be dumb 



The Life of Jesus 271 

and not able to speak, until the day that these things 
come to pass, because thou believest not my words." 

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they 
marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. When 
he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they 
perceived that he had seen a vision, and he beckoned 
unto them, and remained speechless. 

The angel Gabriel was also sent from God unto a city 
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to 
a man whose name was Joseph, and her name was 
Mary. Gabriel came unto her, and said: "Hail, thou 
that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee." 

She was greatly troubled at his saying, and cast in 
her mind what manner of salutation this might be. 
The angel said unto her: "Fear not, Mary. Behold, 
thou shalt have a son, and shalt call his name Jesus, and 
the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David ; 
and of his kingdom there shall be no end." 

Elisabeth had a son; and her neighbors and her kins- 
folk would have called him Zacharias, after the name 
of his father. His mother said : " Not so ; but he shall 
be called John." 

They said unto her: "There is none of thy kindred 
that is called by this name;" and they made signs to 
his father, what he would have him called. 

He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote : " His name 
is John;" and his mouth was opened immediately, 
and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God; 
and the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit. 



272 The Narrative Bible 

In those days, there went out a decree from Csesar 
Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled; and 
all went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 
Joseph went from Galilee to the city of David, which 
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the family of 
David, to enroll himself with Mary. While they were 
there her son was born, and she wrapped him in swad- 
dling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there 
was no room for them in the inn. 

There were shepherds in the same country abiding in 
the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock; 
and an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory 
of the Lord shone round about them, and they were 
sore afraid. The angel said unto them: "Fear not; for, 
behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which shall 
be to all people. There is born to you this day in 
the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; 
and this is a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe 
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." 

Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of 
the heavenly host praising God, and saying: 
" Glory to God in the highest, 
And on earth peace among men." 

When the angels went away into heaven, the shep- 
herds said one to another : " Let us now go unto Beth- 
lehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which 
the Lord hath made known unto us." 




The star in the east 



The Life of Jesus 273 

They came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, 
and the babe lying in a manger; and they made known 
abroad the saying which was spoken to them concerning 
this child. All that heard wondered; but Mary kept 
these things, and pondered them in her heart; and the 
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God. 

Now, behold, wise men from the east came to Jeru- 
salem, saying: "Where is he that is born King of the 
Jews ? for we have seen his star, and are come to 
worship him." 

When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him ; and he gathered together the 
°hief priests and scribes, and inquired of them where 
.he Christ should be born. They said : " In Bethlehem 
of Judaea." 

Then Herod called the wise men, and learned of them 
what time the star appeared ; and he said : " Go and 
search diligently for the young child ; and when ye have 
found him, bring me word, that I also may come and 
vorship him." 

When they had heard the king, they departed ; and 
lo, the star, which they saw, went before them, till it 
stood over where the young child was. They rejoiced 
with exceeding great joy, and came into the house 
and saw the young child with Mary, his mother; and 
they fell down and worshipped him. Then they opened 
their treasures and presented unto him gifts, gold and 
frankincense and myrrh. Being warned of God in a 






274 The Narrative Bible 

dream that they should not return to Herod, they 
departed into their own country another way. 

When they were departed, an angel of the Lord 
appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying : " Arise and take 
the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and 
be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will 
seek the young child to destroy him." 

Joseph arose and took the young child and his 
mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was 
there until the death of Herod. 

Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise 
men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all 
the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all 
the borders thereof, from two years old and under. 
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah 
the prophet, saying: 

" A voice was heard in Ramah, 
Weeping and great mourning, 
Rachel weeping for her children; 
And she would not be comforted, because they 
were not." 

When Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appear- 
eth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: "Arise, 
and take the young child and his mother, and go into 
the land of Israel; for they are dead that sought the 
young child's life." He arose, and took the child and his 
mother, and came into the land of Israel to Galilee, 
and dwelt in Nazareth. 



The Life of Jesus 275 

The child grew, and was filled with wisdom; and 
the grace of God was on him. His parents went every 
year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. When 
he was twelve years old, they went after the custom of 
the feast; and as they were returning, the boy Jesus 
tarried behind in Jerusalem. His parents knew it not; 
but supposing him to be in the company, went a 
day's journey, and they sought for him among their 
kinsfolk and acquaintance. When they found him not, 
they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. After 
three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the 
midst of the teachers, hearing them, and asking them 
questions; and all that heard him were astonished at his 
understanding and his answers. 

His mother said unto him: " Son, why hast thou thus 
dealt with us ? Behold, thy father and I sought thee 
sorrowing." 

He said unto them : " How is it that ye sought me ? 
Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ? " 

They understood not the saying which he spake. 
He went with them to Nazareth, and was subject 
unto them. 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, 
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod 
being tetrarch* of Galilee, the word of God came unto 
John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness; and he 



*Herod the tetrarch or king was a subordinate ruler in the Roman 
Empire. He was a Jew in faith, while Pontius Pilate was an alien. 



276 The Narrative Bible 

came into the country about Jordan, preaching the bap- 
tism of repentance for the remission of sins; as it is 
written in the book of Isaiah the prophet : 

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 
'Make ye ready the way of the Lord, 
Make his paths straight, 
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " 

John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a 
leathern girdle about his loins ; and his food was locusts 
and wild honey. Multitudes went out unto him, and 
were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing 
their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees 
and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto 
them: "Ye offspring of vipers, who hath warned you 
of the wrath to come ? Bring forth fruit worthy of re- 
pentance; and think not to say within yourselves: 
'We have Abraham to our father;' for I say unto you, 
that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto 
Abraham. Even now is the ax laid unto the root of the 
trees. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is 
hewn down, and cast into the fire." 

The people asked him, saying: "What then must 
we do?" 

He answered and said: "He that hath two coats, 
let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath 
food let him do likewise." 

All men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, 
whether he were the Christ. John answered : " I indeed 



The Life of Jesus 277 

baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, 
the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. 
He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, whose fan is 
in his hand, to cleanse his threshing-floor, and he will 
gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will 
burn with fire unquenchable." 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto 
John, to be baptized; and Jesus, when he was baptized, 
went up straightway out of the water, and the heavens 
were opened, and the spirit of God descended as a dove, 
and lighted on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying: 
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

Then was Jesus led of the Spirit into the wilderness 
to be tempted of the devil; and when he had fasted 
forty days and forty nights, he hungered. The tempter 
came and said : " If thou art the Son of God, command 
that these stones become bread." 

But he answered: "It is written: 'Man shall not 
live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth 
out of the mouth of God." 

Then the devil taketh him into the holy city, and set 
him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him: 
"If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it 
is written : 

'He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; 

And on their hands they shall bear thee up, 

Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.' " 



278 The Narrative Bible 

Jesus said unto him : " It is written : * Thou shalt not 
tempt the Lord thy God.' " 

Again the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high 
mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the 
world, and the glory of them, and saith: " All these will 
I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." 

Then saith Jesus : " Get thee hence, Satan ; for it is 
written: 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and 
Him only shalt thou serve.' " 

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came 
and ministered unto him. 

From that time began Jesus to preach and to say: 
"Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;" 
and Jesus was about thirty years of age. 

Two of John's disciples followed Jesus. One of the 
two was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He findeth 
his brother Simon, and saith unto him: " We have found 
the Messiah;" and brought him to Jesus. 

On the morrow Jesus was minded to go forth into 
Galilee, and he findeth Philip. Jesus saith unto him: 
"Follow me." 

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith: "We have 
found him of whom Moses and the prophets did write, 
Jesus of Nazareth." 

Nathanael saith : " Can any good thing come out of 
Nazareth ?" 

Philip saith: " Come and see." 



The Life of Jesus 279 

Jesus saw Nathanael coming and saith of him: 
" Behold, an Israelite in whom is no guile." 

The third day there was a marriage in Cana of 
Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus 
also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage. 
When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto 
him : " They have no wine." 

Jesus saith: " Woman, what have I to do with thee ? " 

His mother saith unto the servants: "Whatsoever 
he saith unto you, do it." 

There were six waterpots of stone set there. Jesus 
saith : " Fill the pots with water." 

They filled them up to the brim; and he saith unto 
them: "Draw out now, and bear unto the steward of 
the feast." 

They bare it, and when the steward tasted the water 
now become wine, and knew not whence it was, he 
called the bridegroom, and saith: "Every man at the 
beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men 
have drunk freely, then that which is worse. Thou 
hast kept the good wine until now." 

The passover was at hand, and Jesus went to Jeru- 
salem. He found in the temple those that sold oxen 
and sheep and doves, and the changers of money 
sitting; and he made a scourge of cords, and cast out 
all them that sold and bought in the temple, and over- 
threw the tables of the money-changers; and he said: 



280 The Narrative Bible 

"It is written: 'My house shall be called a house of 
prayer; ' but ye make it a den of thieves.' ' 

He taught daily in the temple, and the blind and the 
lame came to him, and he healed them. When the chief 
priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he 
did, and the children that were crying in the temple: 
"Hosanna to the son of David;" they were moved 
with indignation, and sought to destroy him, and they 
could not find out what they might do ; for the people 
were very attentive to hear him. 

There was a man named Nicodemus, a ruler of the 
Jews; the same came to Jesus by night, and said: 
"Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from 
God ; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, 
except God be with him." 

Jesus answered: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee: 
1 Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot 
see the kingdom of God. The wind bloweth where it 
listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst 
not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. So is 
everyone that is born of the Spirit. God so loved the 
world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever be- 
lieveth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.' 

He cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, and 
Jacob's well was there. Jesus, being wearied with his 
journey, sat by the well. There cometh a woman of 
Samaria to draw water. Jesus saith unto her: "Give 



The Life of Jesus 281 

me to drink;" for his disciples were gone into the city 
to buy food. 

The Samaritan woman saith: "How is it that thou, 
being a Jew, askest drink of me ? " (For Jews have no 
dealings with Samaritans.) 

Jesus answered : " If thou knewest who it is that saith 
to thee: 'Give me to drink,' thou wouldest have asked 
of him, and he would have given thee living water." 

The woman saith: "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw 
with, and the well is deep. Whence then hast thou 
that water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, 
who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and 
his children, and his cattle ? " 

Jesus answered: "Everyone that drinketh of this 
water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of 
the water that I give shall never thirst. The water 
that I give shall be in him a well springing up unto 
eternal life." 

The woman saith: "Sir, give me this water, that I 
thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw." 

Jesus saith: "Go, call thy husband, and come 
hither." 

The woman answered: " I have no husband." 

Jesus saith unto her: "Thou hast well said; for thou 
hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast 
is not thy husband." 

The woman saith: "Sir, I perceive that thou art a 
prophet." 



282 The Narrative Bible 

Jesus saith: "The hour cometh, and now is, when 
the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit 
and truth." 

The woman saith: "I know that Messiah cometh. 
When he is come, he will tell us all things." 

Jesus saith unto her: "I that speak unto thee am 
he." 

His disciples came. So the woman left her waterpot, 
and went into the city, and saith to the people: " Come, 
see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is 
not this the Christ?" 

In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying: 
"Master, eat." 

But he said unto them: "I have meat to eat that ye 
know not." 

The disciples therefore said one to another: "Hath 
any man brought him aught to eat ? " 

Jesus saith : " My meat is to do the will of Him that 
sent me, and to accomplish His work." 

When the Samaritans came unto him, they besought 
him to tarry with them; and he abode there two days, 
and many believed because of his word. 

Jesus returned to Galilee; and a fame went out 
concerning him through all the region. 

He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought 
up; and he entered, as his custom was, into the syna- 
gogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read. There 
was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah; 



The Life of Jesus 283 

and lie opened the book, and found the place where it 
was written : 

" The Spirit of the Lord is on me, 
Because He anointed me to preach the gospel to 

the poor; 
He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, 
And recovering of sight to the blind, 
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 

The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on 
him, and he began to say unto them: "Today is this 
scripture fulfilled." 

All wondered at the gracious words which proceeded 
out of his mouth, and they said : " Is not this the car- 
penter's son ? Is not his mother called Mary ? and his 
brethren and his sisters, are they not all with us ? 
Whence then hath this man all these things ? " and 
they were offended. 

Jesus said unto them: "A prophet is not without 
honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, 
and in his own house." 

They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, and 
they rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led 
him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was 
built, that they might throw him down headlong; but 
he passing through the midst of them went his way; 
and he could there do no mighty work, save that he 
laid his hands on a few sick folk, and healed them. 



284 The Narrative Bible 

He came and dwelt in Capernaum, and walking by 
the sea of Galilee, he saw two boats by the shore. The 
fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their 
nets, and he entered into one of the boats, which was 
Simon's; and he said unto Simon: "Put out into the 
deep, and let down your nets." 

Simon answered : " Master, we have toiled all night, 
and taken nothing; but at thy word I will let down the 
nets." 

When they had done this, they inclosed a great multi- 
tude of fishes; and their nets were breaking. They 
beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they 
should come and help; and they came, and filled both 
the boats, so that they began to sink. Simon Peter, 
when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: 
" Depart from me; for I am a sinful man." 

He was astonished at the draught of the fishes which 
they had taken; and so were James and John, sons of 
Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said 
unto Simon: "Fear not. Henceforth thou shalt catch 
men." 

When they had brought their boats to land, they left 
all, and followed him. They went into Capernaum, and 
on the Sabbath Day he entered into the synagogue and 
taught; and in the synagogue there was a man with an 
unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying: "What have 
we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth ? Art thou 



The Life of Jesus 285 

come to destroy us ? I know thee who thou art, the 
Holy One of God." 

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying: "Hold thy 
peace, and come out of him." 

The unclean spirit convulsed him, and crying with a 
loud voice, came out of him; and they were all amazed, 
insomuch that they questioned among themselves, 
saying : " What is this ? With authority he command eth 
even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 

When Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his 
wife's mother lying sick of a fever; and he touched her 
hand, and the fever left her, and she arose, and minis- 
tered unto them. 

Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their 
synagogues, and preaching the gospel, and healing all 
manner of sickness among the people. While he was 
in one of the cities there came to him a leper, be- 
seeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying: 
" If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." 

Being moved with compassion, Jesus stretched forth 
his hand, and touched him, and saith: "I will. Be 
thou made clean;" and as soon as he had spoken, the 
leprosy departed from him. 

When Jesus entered again into Capernaum, it was 
noised that he was at home; and many gathered to- 
gether, so that there was no longer room for them, no, 
not even about the door; and he preached the word unto 
them. They bring unto him a man sick of the palsy, 



286 The Narrative Bible 

borne of four; and when they could not come nigh unto 
him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he 
was; and when they had broken it up, they let down 
the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. Jesus seeing 
their faith said unto the sick of the palsy: "Son, thy 
sins are forgiven. Arise, and go unto thy house." 

The sick of the palsy arose, and went forth before 
them all, insomuch that they were all amazed, and 
glorified God, saying: "We have seen strange things 
today." 

Jesus went forth, and saw a man, named Matthew, 
sitting at the place of toll, and saith unto him: "Follow 
me;" and he arose and followed him. 

It came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his 
house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with 
Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, 
they said unto his disciples : " Why eateth your Master 
with the publicans and sinners ? " 

Jesus saith unto them: "They that are whole have 
no need of a physician, but they that are sick. I am 
not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 

He spake also a parable unto them: "No man 
putteth a piece of new cloth on an old garment; for 
that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, 
and a worse rent is made. Neither do men put new 
wine into old wine-skins, else the skins burst, and the 
wine runneth out, and the skins perish; but they put 
new wine into new wine-skins, and both are preserved." 



The Life of Jesus 287 

After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and 
Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem 
by the sheep gate a pool, which is called Bethesda, 
having five porches. In these lay a multitude of them 
that were sick, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the 
moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went 
down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled 
the water. Whosoever then first stepped in was made 
whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden. A 
certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty and 
eight years. When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that 
he had been a long time in that case, he saith unto him : 
" Wilt thou be made whole ? " 

The sick man answered : " Sir, I have no man, when 
the water is troubled, to put me into the pool. While 
I am coming, another steppeth down before me." 

Jesus saith unto him: "Rise, take up thy bed and 
walk." 

Immediately the man was made whole, and took up 
his bed and walked. 

Jesus was going on the Sabbath Day through the 
grainfields, and his disciples were hungry, and began 
to pluck ears and to eat. The Pharisees said unto him : 
"Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to 
do on the Sabbath." 

He said unto them : " Have ye not read what David 
did, when he was hungry, how he entered into the 
house of God and did eat the showbread, which it 



288 The Narrative Bible 

was not lawful for him to eat, but only for the priests. 
The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the 
Sabbath." 

On another Sabbath he entered into the synagogue 
and taught; and a man was there whose right hand 
was withered. The scribes and Pharisees watched 
Jesus, whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they 
might accuse him. But he knew their thoughts; and 
he said to the man that had his hand withered : " Stand 
forth." 

He arose and stood forth; and Jesus said unto them: 
"Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil ? 
to save a life, or to destroy it ? " 

He looked round about on them all, and said unto 
the man : " Stretch forth thy hand." 

He stretched it forth, and it was restored whole, as 
the other. But the Pharisees went out, and took coun- 
sel how they might destroy Jesus. 

It came to pass, that he went to a mountain to pray, 
and he continued all night in prayer to God ; and when 
it was day, he called his disciples, and he chose from 
them twelve, whom also he named apostles: Simon 
who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James 
the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and 
Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; 
James the son of Alphaeas, and Thaddseus; Simon 
the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot. He came down 
with them and stood on a level place, and a multitude 



The Life of Jesus 289 

of people from all Judsea and Jerusalem, and the 
sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, came to hear him, and to 
be healed of their diseases. Seeing the multitude, he 
went up into the mountain, and when he had sat down, 
his disciples came unto him, and he taught them saying : 

" Blessed are the poor in spirit ; for theirs is the king- 
dom of heaven. 

"Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be 
comforted. 

"Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the 
earth. 

" Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after right- 
eousness; for they shall be filled. 

" Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see 
God. 

"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be 
called the children of God. 

"Blessed are they that have been persecuted for 
righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and say 
all manner of evil against you falsely, ,for my sake. 
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad ; for great is your re- 
ward in heaven. So persecuted they the prophets that 
were before you. 

"Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have 
lost its savor, it is thenceforth good for nothing, but 
to be cast out and trodden under foot. Ye are the 



290 The Narrative Bible 

light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 
Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, 
but on a stand; and it shineth unto all that are in 
the house. Even so let your light shine before men, 
that they may see your good works, and glorify your 
Father who is in heaven. 

" Ye have heard that it was said : ' An eye for an eye, 
and a tooth for a tooth;' but I say unto you: 'Resist 
not him that is evil; but whosoever smiteth thee on thy 
right cheek, turn to him the other also. If any man 
would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, 
let him have thy cloak also; and whosoever shall com- 
pel thee to go one mile, go with him twain. Give to 
him that asketh, and from him that would borrow turn 
not thou away.' 

"Ye have heard that it was said: 'Thou shalt love 
thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy;' but I say unto 
you: 'Love your enemies, and pray for them that 
persecute you, that ye may be children of your Father 
who is in heaven ;' for He maketh His sun to rise on the 
evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the 
unjust. As ye would that men should do to you, do ye 
also to them. If ye love them that love you, what 
thank have ye ? Even sinners love those that love them. 
If ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank 
have ye ? Even sinners do the same. If ye lend to 
them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye ? 
Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much; 



The Life of Jesus 291 

and if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more 
than others ? Do not even the Gentiles the same ? 

" Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before 
men, to be seen of them; else ye have no reward with 
your Father who is in heaven. When thou doest alms, 
sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do 
in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may 
have glory of men. Verily I say unto you : * They have 
received their reward.' But when thou doest alms, 
let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, 
that thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who 
seeth in secret shall reward thee. 

"When ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites, 
for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and 
on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of 
men. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine 
inner chamber, and shut thy door; and in praying use 
not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think 
that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Your 
Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye 
ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: 

"Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy 
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, 
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; 
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; 
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
glory, for ever. Amen. 



292 The Narrative Bible 

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth, 
where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break 
through and steal ; but lay up for yourselves treasures in 
heaven; for where your treasure is, there will your heart 
be also. No man can serve two masters; for either he 
will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold 
to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God 
and mammon. Be not anxious what ye shall eat, or 
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye 
shall put on. Behold the birds of the air; they sow 
not neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; 
and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of 
more value than they ? Consider the lilies of the field, 
how they grow. They toil not neither do they spin; 
yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory 
was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God doth 
so clothe the grass of the field, shall he not much more 
clothe you, O ye of little faith ? Be not therefore anx- 
ious for the morrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil 
thereof. 

"Judge not that ye be not judged; for with what 
judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. Give, and it 
shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, 
shaken together, running over. 

" Can the blind guide the blind ? Shall they not both 
fall into a ditch ? and why beholdest thou the mote 
that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam 
that is in thine own eye ? 



The Life of Jesus 293 

" Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither 
cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample 
them under their feet, and turn and rend you. 

" Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

"What man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask 
him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he ask a fish, 
will give him a serpent ? If ye then, being evil, know 
how to give good gifts unto your children, how much 
more shall your Father who is in heaven give good 
things to them that ask Him ? 

"Enter ye in at the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, 
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and 
many be they that enter in thereat. Narrow is the gate, 
and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few 
be they that find it. 

" Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's 
clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their 
fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of 
thorns, or figs of thistles ? A good tree cannot bring 
forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth 
good fruit. The good man out of the good treasure of 
his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the 
evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth 
forth that which is evil. Not everyone that saith unto 
me : * Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, 
but he that doeth the will of my Father. 



294 The Narrative Bible 

"Everyone who heareth these words of mine, and 
doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who 
built his house on a rock; and the rain descended, 
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on 
that house; and it fell not; for it was founded on a 
rock. Everyone that heareth these words of mine, 
and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish 
man, who built his house on the sand; and the rain 
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, 
and beat on that house; and it fell, and great was 
the fall of it." 

After he had ended all these sayings, he entered into 
Capernaum; and a certain centurion's servant was sick 
and at the point of death. When the centurion heard 
concerning Jesus, he came beseeching him, and saying: 
"Lord, my servant lieth in the house, grievously tor- 
mented." 

Jesus saith: " I will come and heal him." 

The centurion answered: "Lord, I am not worthy 
that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only speak 
the word, and my servant shall be healed." 

Jesus said to them that followed : " Verily I say unto 
you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel;" 
and Jesus said unto the centurion : " Go thy way. 
As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee;" and 
the servant was healed in the selfsame hour. 

Soon afterward, he went to a city called Nain; and 
his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. 



The Life of Jesus 295 

When he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, 
there was carried out one that was dead, the only son 
of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people 
of the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he 
had compassion on her, and said unto her: " Weep not." 

He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood 
still; and he said: "Young man, I say unto thee: 
' Arise.' " 

He that was dead sat up, and began to speak, and 
Jesus delivered him to his mother. Fear took hold on 
all, and they glorified God, saying: "A great prophet is 
arisen among us." 

The disciples of John told him of all these things; 
and John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them 
to Jesus saying : " Art thou he that cometh, or look we 
for another ? " 

Jesus said unto them : " Go and tell John the things 
which ye hear and see. The blind receive their sight, 
and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf 
hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have 
good tidings preached to them." 

When the messengers were departed, he began to 
say unto the multitude concerning John: "What went 
ye out into the wilderness to behold ? a reed shaken 
with the wind ? What went ye out to see ? a man 
clothed in soft raiment? They that are gorgeously 
apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 
What went ye out to see ? a prophet ? Yea, and much 



296 The Narrative Bible 

more than a prophet. Verily I say unto you: 'There 
hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist;' yet 
he that is little in the kingdom of heaven is greater 
than he. 

" Whereunto shall I liken this generation ? It is like 
unto children sitting in the marketplaces, that call unto 
their fellows, and say: 'We piped unto you, and ye 
did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.' 
For John came eating no bread nor drinking wine; 
and ye say: ' He hath a devil.' The Son of Man is come 
eating and drinking; and ye say: " Behold, a gluttonous 
man, and a wine-bibber.' " 

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most 
of his mighty works were done, because they repented 
not. "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, 
Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in 
Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would 
have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. I say 
unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon 
in the day of judgment, than for you; and thou, Caper- 
naum, shalt go down unto hell. For if the mighty 
works had been done in Sodom which were done in 
thee, it would have remained until this day." 

In that same hour he rejoiced, and said: "I thank 
Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou 
hast hid these things from the wise, and hast revealed 
them unto babes. 



The Life of Jesus 297 

" Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you, and 
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye 
shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, 
and my burden is light." 

One of the Pharisees desired that he would eat with 
him. He entered into the Pharisee's house; and 
behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, when she 
knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee's house, 
brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, and weeping, 
she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped 
them with the hair of her head, and anointed them 
with the ointment. The Pharisee spake within himself, 
saying: "This man, if he were a prophet, would have 
perceived what manner of woman this is that toucheth 
him." 

Jesus said unto him: "Simon, I have somewhat to 
say unto thee. A certain lender had two debtors. The 
one owed him five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 
When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them 
both. Which of them therefore will love him most ? " 

Simon answered: "He, I suppose, to whom he for- 
gave the most." 

Jesus said: "Thou hast rightly judged. Seest thou 
this woman ? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me 
no water for my feet; but she hath wetted my feet with 
her tears, and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest 
me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, hath not 



298 The Narrative Bible 

ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst 
not anoint; but she hath anointed my feet with oint- 
ment. Wherefore I say unto thee: 'Her sins, which 
are many, are forgiven; for she loved much; but to 
whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.' : 

He said unto the woman: "Thy faith hath saved 
thee. Go in peace." 

Soon afterward, he went about through cities and 
villages, preaching, and with him the twelve, and cer- 
tain women who had been healed of evil spirits and 
infirmities, Mary that was called Magdalene, and 
many others, that ministered unto him of their substance. 

He went into a house, and the multitude cometh 
together. Then was brought unto him one possessed 
with a devil, and he healed him. Some said: "He 
hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth 
he out devils." 

He said unto them : " Every kingdom divided against 
itself is brought to desolation; and if Satan casteth 
out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then 
shall his kingdom stand ? But if I by the Spirit of God 
cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come unto you. 
He that is not with me is against me, and he that gather- 
eth not with me scattereth. I say unto you, that every 
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account 
thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou 
shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be con- 
demned. This generation is an evil generation. The 



The Life of Jesus 299 

men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment, and 
condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of 
Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. 
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment 
with this generation, and shall condemn it; for she came 
from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solo- 
mon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here." 

While he yet talked one said unto him: " Thy mother 
and thy brethren stand without, seeking to speak 
with thee." 

But he said: "Who is my mother, and who are my 
brethren?" 

He stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and 
said: "Behold, my mother and my brethren! For 
whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in 
heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." 

Jesus went out of the house to the seaside, and there 
gathered unto him a great multitude. He went into 
a boat, and all the multitude stood on the shore; and 
he spake to them many things in parables, saying: " Be- 
hold, a sower went .forth to sow; and as he sowed, 
some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds came and 
devoured them. Some fell on rocky places, where 
they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang 
up, because they had no deepness of earth, and when 
the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because 
they had no root, they withered away. Others fell 
among thorns; and the thorns grew, and choked 



300 The Narrative Bible 

them. Others fell on the good ground, and yielded fruit, 
some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." 

As he said these things, he cried: "He that hath 
ears to hear, let him hear." 

When he was alone, his disciples asked him what 
this parable might be. He answered: "Unto you it is 
given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for 
they hear. Verily I say unto you, that many prophets 
and righteous men desired to see the things which ye 
see, and saw them not, and to hear the things which ye 
hear, and heard them not. 

" Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone 
heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth 
it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away 
that which was sown in his heart. This is he that 
was sown by the wayside. He that was sown on 
the rocky places is he that heareth the word, and 
straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root 
in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribula- 
tion or persecution ariseth, he stumbleth. He that was 
sown among the thorns is he that heareth the word; 
and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, 
choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. He that 
was sown on the good ground is he that heareth the 
word, and understandeth it; who beareth fruit, and 
bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some 
thirty." 



The Life of Jesus 301 

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying : " The 
kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed 
good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy 
came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went 
away. When the blade sprang up, and brought forth 
fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants 
of the householder came and said: "Sir, didst thou 
not sow good seed in thy field ? Whence then hath it 
tares?" 

He said : " An enemy hath done this." 

The servants say unto him: "Wilt thou then that 
we go and gather them up ? " 

He said: "Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, 
ye root up the wheat with them. Let both grow 
together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest 
I will say to the reapers: 'Gather up first the tares, 
and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather 
the wheat into my barn.' " 

Another parable set he before them, saying: "The 
kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, 
which a man took, and sowed in his field ; which indeed 
is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is the 
greatest among herbs, so that the birds of the air come 
and lodge in the branches thereof." 

His disciples said: "Explain unto us the parable of 
the tares of the field." 

He answered : " He that soweth the good seed is the 
Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seed 



302 The Narrative Bible 

are the children of the kingdom, and the tares are the 
children of the evil one. The enemy that sowed them 
is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the 
reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gath- 
ered up and burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of 
the world. The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, 
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things 
that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and 
shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be 
weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the right- 
eous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their 
Father. 

" Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant 
seeking goodly pearls, who found one pearl of great 
price, and went and sold all that he had, and bought it." 

When even was come, he went into a boat with his 
disciples ; and he said : " Let us go over unto the other 
side of the lake;" and they launched forth. 

But as they sailed he fell asleep; and there came a 
storm of wind on the lake, and the waves beat into the 
boat, insomuch that it was now filling. He him- 
self was in the stern, asleep. They came to him, and 
awoke him, saying: " Lord, save us. We perish." 

He saith unto them: "Why are ye fearful, O ye of 
little faith?" 

Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; 
and there was a calm; and the men marvelled, saying: 



The Life of Jesus 303 

" What manner of man is this, that even the winds and 
the sea obey him ? " 

They came to the other side of the sea, and there met 
him a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling 
in the tombs. He had been often bound with fetters 
and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by 
him, and the fetters broken in pieces ; and no man had 
strength to tame him. Always, night and day, in the 
tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and 
cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus, he ran 
and worshipped him; and cried with a loud voice, and 
said: "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son 
of the Most High God ? I adjure thee, torment me 
not." 

Jesus asked him : " What is thy name ? " 

He said: "My name is Legion;" for many devils 
were entered into him. 

Now there was afar off a herd of many swine feeding ; 
and the devils besought Jesus, saying: "If thou cast us 
out, send us into the herd of swine." 

He said unto them: "Go;" and they came out, and 
went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed 
down the steep into the sea, and perished in the waters. 

When they that fed them saw what had come to pass, 
they fled, and went away into the city, and told every- 
thing. The whole city came to Jesus, and found the man, 
from whom the devils were gone out, sitting, clothed 
and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus; and they 
besought Jesus that he would depart from their borders. 



304 The Narrative Bible 

Jesus had crossed over again in the boat, and there 
cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by 
name, and fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, 
saying: "My little daughter is at the point of death. 
I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, 
that she may live." 

Jesus went, and a great multitude followed, and they 
thronged him. A woman having an issue of blood 
twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, 
and could not be healed of any, but rather grew worse, 
having heard concerning Jesus, came behind him, and 
touched the border of his garment; for she said within 
herself: " If I do but touch his garment I shall be made 
whole." 

Immediately the issue of her blood stanched. Jesus 
said : " Who touched me ? " 

His disciples said unto him: "Thou seest the multi- 
tude thronging thee, and sayest thou: 'Who touched 
me?'" 

He looked round about to see who had done this 
thing. The woman fearing and trembling, came and 
fell down before him, and told him all. He said unto 
her: "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole." 

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler 
of the synagogue's house, saying: "Thy daughter is 
dead. Trouble not the Master." 

But Jesus hearing it, answered: "Fear not. Only 
believe." 



The Life of Jesus 305 

When he came to the house, he suffered not any man 
to go in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, 
and the father of the maiden and her mother; and all 
were weeping, and bewailing her. He said : " Weep 
not, for she is not dead, but sleepeth." 

They laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was 
dead; but he took her by the hand, and called, saying: 
"Maiden, arise;" and her spirit returned, and she 
rose up immediately; and he commanded that some- 
thing be given her to eat. 

When Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with 
compassion for them, because they were distressed and 
scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd. Then 
saith he unto his disciples: "The harvest truly is 
plenteous, but the laborers few;" and he began to send 
forth his twelve disciples by two and two, and he gave 
them authority over unclean spirits, and to heal all 
manner of sickness. 

He charged them that they should take nothing for 
their journey, save a staff, and to go shod with sandals, 
and said: "Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear 
your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, 
shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against 
them. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of 
wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless 
as doves. They will deliver you up to councils, and in 
their synagogues they will scourge you; yea and before 
governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake. 



306 The Narrative Bible 

But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or 
what ye shall speak. It shall be given you in that hour 
what ye shall speak; for it is not ye that speak, but the 
Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. Ye shall 
be hated of all men for my sake; but he that endureth 
to the end, shall be saved. Be not afraid of them 
that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. 
Rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and 
body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? 
and not one of them shall fall on the ground without 
your Father. The very hairs of your head are num- 
bered. Fear not therefore. Ye are of more value than 
many sparrows. Everyone who shall confess me before 
men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in 
heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, 
him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. 

"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that 
receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me; and who- 
soever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones 
a cup of cold water, in the name of a disciple, verily 
I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." 

When Jesus had made an end of commanding his 
twelve disciples, they departed, and went through the 
villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. 

Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and 
he was much perplexed, because it was said by some, 
that John was risen from the dead; and by some, that 



The Life of Jesus 307 

Elijah had appeared. Herod said: "John I beheaded. 
Who is this?" 

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, 
and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his 
brother Philip's wife. He had married her, and John 
had said unto him: "It is not lawful for thee to have 
her." 

When Herod would have put John to death, he 
feared the multitude, because they counted him as a 
prophet. Herod on his birthday made a supper to his 
lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Gali- 
lee; and when the daughter of Herodias came in and 
danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat at meat 
with him. The king said unto the damsel: "Ask 
of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee, unto 
the half of the kingdom." 

She went out, and said to her mother : " What shall 
I ask?" 

Her mother said : " The head of John the Baptist." 

She came in straightway unto the king, saying: 
" I will that thou give me on a platter the head of John 
the Baptist." 

The king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of 
his oath, and of them that sat at meat, he would not 
reject her; and the king sent forth a soldier of his 
guard; and he went and beheaded John in the prison, 
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the 
damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother. John's 



308 The Narrative Bible 

disciples came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a 
tomb, and they went and told Jesus. 

The apostles, when they returned, declared unto 
Jesus what things they had done, and he said unto 
them: "Come ye apart into a desert place and rest 
a while;" for there were many coming and going, and 
they had no leisure so much as to eat. 

They went away in a boat, and the people saw them 
going, and they followed on foot from all the cities. 
He came forth, and he began to teach them many 
things. When the day was far spent, his disciples came 
unto him, and said : " Send them away, that they may 
go into the villages round about, and buy themselves 
somewhat to eat." 

He answered : " Give ye them to eat." 

They say unto him : " Shall we go and buy two hun- 
dred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat ?" 

Andrew saith: "There is a lad here who hath five 
barley loaves, and two fishes ; but what are these among 
so many?" 

Jesus commanded that all should sit down by com- 
panies on the green grass; and they sat down in ranks, 
by hundreds, and by fifties, and he took the five loaves 
and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, blessed 
them, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before 
the multitude. They did eat, and were all filled, and 
he saith unto his disciples : " Gather up the fragments 
which remain over, that nothing be lost." 



The Life of Jesus 309 

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets; 
and they that did eat were about five thousand men, 
besides women and children. 

When the people saw the miracle that Jesus did, they 
said: "This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into 
the world." 

Jesus perceived that they were about to take him by 
force, to make him king, and he withdrew into a mountain 
alone. His disciples entered into a boat, and were 
going over to Capernaum. It was now dark, and the 
sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. The 
boat was in the midst of the sea, tossed by the waves, 
and in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came, walking 
on the sea. When the disciples saw him, they were 
troubled, saying: "It is an apparition;" and they cried 
out for fear. 

But Jesus spake unto them, saying: "Be of good 
cheer. It is I." 

Peter said: "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto 
thee on the water." 

Jesus said : " Come." 

Peter went from the boat, and walked on the water; 
but when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was 
afraid. He began to sink, and he cried out: "Lord, 
save me." 

Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and 
caught him, and said : " O thou of little faith, where- 
fore didst thou doubt ? " 



310 The Narrative Bible 

When they were come into the boat, the wind ceased, 
and straightway the boat was at the land whither they 
were going. When they were come out of the boat, the 
people knew him, and ran about that whole region, 
and began to carry on their beds those that were sick, 
where they heard he was. Wheresoever he entered, 
into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid 
the sick in the market places, and besought him that they 
might touch if it were but the border of his garment; 
and as many as touched it were made whole. 

Jesus withdrew into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, 
and behold, a Canaanitish woman came, and cried, 
saying: "O Lord, my daughter is grievously vexed 
with a devil." 

But he answered not a word. His disciples besought 
him, saying: "Send her away; for she crieth after us." 

She came and worshipped him, saying: "Lord, 
help me." 

He answered : " It is not meet to take the children's 
bread, and cast it to the dogs." 

She said : " Yea, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs 
which fall from their masters' table. 

Then Jesus said: "O woman, great is thy faith. 
Be it done unto thee even as thou wilt; " and her daugh- 
ter was healed from that hour. 

Jesus came nigh unto the sea of Galilee ; and he went 
up into a mountain. They bring unto him one that 
was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and 



The Life of Jesus 311 

they beseech him to lay his hand on him. He took 
him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into 
his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue, and look- 
ing up to heaven, he sighed, and saith: "Be opened;" 
and his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue 
was loosed, and he spake plain. 

Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said: "I 
have compassion on the multitude, because they con- 
tinue with me now three days and have nothing to eat, 
and I would not send them away fasting, lest they 
faint on the way." 

The disciples say unto him: "Whence should we 
have so much bread in a desert place, as to fill so great 
a multitude?" 

Jesus saith : " How many loaves have ye ? " 
They said: " Seven, and a few little fishes." 
He commanded the multitude to sit down, and he 
took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks 
and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples 
to the multitude. They did all eat, and were filled; 
and they took up that which remained over of the broken 
pieces, seven baskets full; and they that did eat were 
about four thousand. 

Jesus came to Bethsaida, and they bring to him a 
blind man, and beseech him to touch him. He took 
the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the 
village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his 
hands on him, he asked: "Seest thou aught?" 



312 The Narrative Bible 

He looked up, and said: "I see men as trees, 
walking." 

Then again Jesus laid his hands on his eyes; and he 
looked steadfastly, and was restored, and saw all things 
clearly. 

Jesus asked his disciples: "Who do men say that 
I am?" 

They answered: "John the Baptist; and others, 
that one of the old prophets is risen." 

He saith unto them : " But who say ye that I am ? " 

Simon Peter answered: "Thou art the Christ, the 
Son of the living God." 

Jesus said unto him: "Blessed art thou, Simon. 
Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. 
I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." 

From that time began Jesus to show his disciples 
that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things 
of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, 
and the third day be raised up. Peter began to rebuke 
him, saying: "Be it far from thee, Lord. This shall 
never be unto thee." 

But he turned, and said unto Peter: "Get thee be- 
hind me, Satan. Thou art an offence unto me; for 
thou mindest not the things of God, but those that be 
of men." 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples: "If any man 
would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up 
his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save 



The Life of Jesus 313 

his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life 
for my sake shall find it. What is a man profited 
if he gain the whole world, and forfeit his life ? For 
the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father 
with his angels, and then shall he render unto every 
man according to his deeds. Verily I say unto you: 
'There be some standing here, who shall not taste of 
death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his 
kingdom.' " 

Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his 
brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain 
apart; and he was transfigured before them. His face 
did shine as the sun, and his garments became white 
as the light, and there appeared Moses and Elijah 
talking with him. Peter said unto Jesus: "Lord, it is 
good for us to be here. If thou wilt, I will make three 
tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one 
for Elijah." 

While he was yet speaking, a bright cloud overshad- 
owed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, 
which said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 
well pleased. Hear ye him." 

The disciples fell on their faces, and were sore afraid, 
and Jesus came and touched them, and said: "Arise, 
and be not afraid;" and lifting up their eyes, they saw 
no one, save Jesus only. 

When they were come down from the mountain, a 
great multitude met them, and a man from the multi- 



314 The Narrative Bible 

tude cried, saying: "Master, I beseech thee to look 
on my son; for he is mine only child, and he is epileptic 
and suffereth grievously. Oft-times he falleth into the 
fire, and oft-times into the water; and I brought him 
to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." 

Jesus said : " Bring him to me." 

They brought him, and straightway the spirit tare 
him, and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 
Jesus asked his father : " How long time is it since this 
hath come unto him ?" 

He said: "From a child. If thou canst do anything, 
have compassion on us, and help us." 

Jesus saith: "All things are possible to him that 
believeth." 

The father of the child cried out, and said: "I be- 
lieve. Help thou mine unbelief." 

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying: "I com- 
mand thee, come out of him." 

Having convulsed him much, it came out; and the 
child became as one dead; insomuch that many 
said : " He is dead." 

But Jesus took him by the hand, and the boy arose, 
and was cured from that hour. Then came the disciples 
to Jesus apart, and said: "Why could not we cast it 
out?" 

He said unto them: " Because of your little faith." 

There arose a reasoning among the disciples, which 
of them should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 



The Life of Jesus 315 

Jesus took a little child, and set him in the midst of 
them, and said: "Verily I say unto you: 'Except ye 
become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into 
the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall 
humble himself as this little child, the same is the great- 
est in the kingdom of heaven; and whoso shall receive 
one such little child in my name receiveth me. But 
whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe 
on me to stumble, it is better for him that a 
millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that 
he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.' " 

Peter said to him: "Lord, how oft shall my brother 
sin against me, and I forgive him ? — until seven times ?" 

Jesus saith: " I say not unto thee: ' Until seven times;' 
but: 'Until seventy times seven.' Therefore is the king- 
dom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would 
make a reckoning with his servants. One was brought 
unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. But 
forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord 
commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, 
and all that he had, and payment to be made. The 
servant fell down and worshipped him, saying: 'Lord, 
have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' 

" Then the lord of that servant was moved with com- 
passion, and forgave him the debt. But that 
servant went out, and found one of his fellow- 
servants, who owed him a hundred pence, and he laid 
hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying: 'Pay 
that thou owest.' 



316 The Narrative Bible 

"His fellow-servant fell down and besought him, 
saying: * Have patience with me, and I will pay thee/ 

"He would not; but cast him into prison, till he 
should pay that which was due. When his fellow- 
servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, 
and came and told their lord all that was done. Then 
his lord called him, and said: 'Thou wicked servant, 
I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest 
me. Shouldest not thou also have had mercy?' and 
his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, 
till he should pay all that was due. 

" So shall my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye for- 
give not every one his brother." 

It came to pass that Jesus steadfastly set his face to go 
to Jerusalem; and on the way, a certain man said unto 
him : " I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." 

Jesus said: "The foxes have holes, and the birds 
have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay 
his head." 

He said unto another: "Follow me." 

But he said: "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury 
my father." 

Jesus said unto him : " Leave the dead to bury their 
own dead ; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." 

Another said: "I will follow thee, Lord; but first 
suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house." 

Jesus said unto him : " No man having put his hand 
to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom 
of God." 



The Life of Jesus 317 

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others, 
and sent them two and two into every city and place, 
whither he himself was about to come; and he said: 
"Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and into what- 
soever house ye enter, in that house remain, eating 
and drinking such things as they give; for the laborer 
is worthy of his hire." 

A certain lawyer tempted Jesus, saying: "Master, 
what shall I do to inherit eternal life ? " 

Jesus said unto him: "What is written in the law?" 

He answering said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself." 

Jesus said: "Thou hast answered right. This do 
and thou shalt live." 

He said : " And who is my neighbor ? " 

Jesus made answer : " A certain man was going from 
Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among thieves, who 
stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him 
half dead. By chance a priest was going that way; 
and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 
In like manner a Levite, when he came to the place 
and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Sa- 
maritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and 
was moved with compassion, and bound up his wounds, 
pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his 
own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care 
of him. On the morrow he took out two shillings, and 
gave them to the host, and said: 'Take care of him, 



318 The Narrative Bible 

and whatsoever thou spendest more, I will repay thee, 
when I come again.' 

"Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor 
unto him that fell among the thieves ? " 

The lawyer said: "He that showed mercy on him." 

Jesus said: " Go, and do thou likewise." 

Jesus entered into a village, and a woman named 
Martha received him into her house. She had a sister 
Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his words. 
But Martha was cumbered with much serving; and 
she came, and said: "Lord, dost thou not care that 
my sister did leave me to serve alone ? Bid her there- 
fore that she help me." 

Jesus answered : " Martha, Martha, thou art anxious 
and troubled about many things; but Mary hath 
chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away 
from her." 

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his 
birth; and he spat on the ground, and made clay of 
the spittle, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with 
the clay, and said : " Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." 

The man went away therefore, and washed, and 
came seeing. The neighbors said : " Is not this he that 
sat and begged ?" 

Some said: "This is he." 

Others said : " No, but he is like him." 

He said : " I am he." 

They said unto him: "How then were thine eyes 
opened ? " 



The Life of Jesus 319 

He answered: "The man that is called Jesus made 
clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said: 'Go to Siloam 
and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received 
sight." 

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was 
blind. Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus opened his 
eyes. The Pharisees also asked him how he received 
his sight. He said unto them: "He put clay on mine 
eyes, and I washed, and do see." 

Some of the Pharisees said: "This man is not from 
God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath." 

Others said: "How can a man that is a sinner do 
such miracles ? " and there was a division among them. 

They say unto the man again : " What sayest thou 
of him, in that he opened thine eyes ? " 

He said : " He is a prophet." 

The Jews did not believe that the man had been 
blind, and had received his sight, until they called his 
parents, and asked them: "Is this your son, who ye 
say was born blind ? How then doth he now see ? " 

His parents answered: "We know that this is our 
son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he 
now seeth, we know not. Ask him. He shall speak 
for himself." 

The Jews called a second time the man that 
was blind, and said unto him: " We know that this man 
is a sinner." 



320 The Narrative Bible 

He answered : " Whether he be a sinner, I know not. 
One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I 
see. 

They said unto him: "What did he to thee? How 
opened he thine eyes ?" 

He answered : " I have told you already. Wherefore 
would ye hear it again ? Would ye also become his 
disciples ? " 

They reviled him, and said: "Thou art his disciple, 
but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God 
spake unto Moses; but as for this fellow, we know not 
whence he is." 

The man answered : " Why, herein is the marvel, that 
ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes. 
Since the world began it was never heard that anyone 
opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were 
not of God, he could do nothing." 

They said unto him: "Thou wast altogether born 
in sins, and dost thou teach us ?" and they cast him out. 

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding 
him, said : " Dost thou believe on the Son of God ? " 

He said : " Lord, I believe; " and he worshipped him. 

Jesus said: "For judgment came I into this world, 
that they who see not may see; and that they who see 
may become blind." 

Some of the Pharisees who were with him said: 
"Are we also blind?" 



The Life of Jesus 321 

Jesus said : " Verily, verily, I say unto you : ' He that 
entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but 
climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a 
robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the 
shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth, 
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them 
out. When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before 
them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his 
voice. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from 
him. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd 
layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling 
seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and 
fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth 
them. I am the good shepherd; and other sheep I 
have, which are not of this fold. Them also I must 
bring, and they shall hear my voice.' " 

There arose a division among the Jews because of 
these words ; and many of them said : " He hath a devil, 
and is mad. Why hear ye him ? " 

Others said: "These are not the words of one that 
hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind ? " 

It was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem; and 
Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. The 
Jews came round about him, and said : " If thou art the 
Christ, tell us plainly." 

Jesus answered: "I told you, and ye believe not. 
The works that I do in my Father's name — these bear 
witness of me. I and my Father are one." 



322 The Narrative Bible 

The Jews took up stones to stone him. Jesus said: 
"Many good works have I showed^you. For which of 
those works do ye stone me ? " 

The Jews answered: "For a good work we stone 
thee not, but for blasphemy, and because thou, being a 
man, makest thyself God." 

Jesus answered: "If I do not the works of my 
Father, believe me not. But if I do them, though ye 
believe not me, believe the works, that ye may know 
that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." 

They sought to take him; but he escaped out of 
their hand. 

At another time, when many thousands were gathered 
together, one said unto him : " Master, bid my brother 
divide the inheritance with me." 

But he said: "Man, who made me a judge or a di- 
vider over you?" and he said unto the multitude: 
"Take heed, and keep yourselves from covetousness ; 
for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the 
things which he possesseth." 

He spake a parable saying : " The ground of a certain 
rich man brought forth plentifully; and he reasoned 
with himself: 'What shall I do, because I have not 
where to bestow my fruits ? ' He said : ' This will I 
do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and 
there will I bestow all my goods; and I will say to my 
soul: "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many 
years. Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." 



The Life of Jesus 323 

"But God said unto him: 'Thou fool, this 
night is thy soul required of thee, and the things which 
thou hast provided, whose shall they be V 

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is 
not rich toward God." 

Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the 
Sabbath Day; and behold, a woman that had a spirit 
of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together, 
and could in no wise lift herself up. Jesus called 
her, and said: "Woman, thou art loosed from thine 
infirmity." 

He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was 
made straight, and glorified God. 

The ruler of the synagogue, being moved with in- 
dignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, 
said to the people : " There are six days in which men 
ought to work. In them therefore come and be healed, 
and not on the Sabbath." 

But the Lord said: "Doth not each one of you on 
the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and 
lead him away to watering ? and ought not this woman, 
whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to 
have been loosed from this bond on the Sabbath ? " 

As he said these things, his adversaries were put to 
shame, and the people rejoiced for all the glorious 
things that were done by him. 

He went on his way through cities and villages, and 
one said unto him : " Lord, are they few that be saved ? " 



324 The Narrative Bible 

He said: "Strive to enter in by the narrow door; for 
many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath 
shut the door, and ye stand without, and knock, saying: 
'Lord, open to us;' he shall answer: 'I know not 
whence ye are.' Then shall ye say: 'We did eat and 
drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our 
streets.' He shall say: 'I know not whence ye are. 
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.' ; 

Jesus went into the house of one of the rulers of the 
Pharisees to eat; and he spake a parable unto those 
that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out 
the chief seats, saying: "When thou art bidden to a 
marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest 
a more honorable man than thou be bidden, and he 
that bade thee shall come and say: 'Give this man 
place.' But sit in the lowest place, that when he that 
hath bidden thee cometh, he may say: 'Friend, go up 
higher.' Then shalt thou have glory in the presence of 
all that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth 
himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself 
shall be exalted." 

One of them that sat at meat said: "Blessed is he 
that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." 

Jesus said: "A certain man made a great supper, 
and bade many; and he sent forth his servant at 
supper time to say to them that were bidden: 'Come; 
for all things are now ready.' They all began to make 



The Life of Jesus 325 

excuse. The first said: 'I have bought a field, and I 
must needs go and see it. I pray thee have me excused.' 
Another said: 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and 
I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused.' 
Another said : ' I have married a wife, and therefore I 
cannot come.' The servant came and told his lord these 
things. Then the master of the house being angry said 
to his servant : ' Go out quickly into the streets and 
lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and 
maimed and blind and lame; for none of those men 
that were bidden shall taste of my supper.' " 

There went with Jesus great multitudes; and the 
Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying: "This man 
receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." 

He spake unto them, saying: "What man of you, 
having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth 
not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go 
after that which is lost, until he find it ? When he hath 
found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing; and 
when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends 
and his neighbors, saying unto them: * Rejoice with 
me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I say 
unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over 
one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and 
nine righteous persons, who need no repentance. 

"Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she 
lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the 
house, and seek diligently until she find it; and when 



326 The Narrative Bible 

she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and 
neighbors, saying: 'Rejoice with me; for I have found 
the piece which I had lost.' Even so, I say unto you, 
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over 
one sinner that repenteth. 

"A certain man had two sons; and the younger said 
to his father : * Give me the portion of thy substance that 
falleth to me.' The father divided unto them his living, 
and the younger son gathered all together, and took 
his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his 
substance with riotous living. When he had spent all, 
there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he 
began to be in want, and he went and joined himself to 
a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to 
feed swine. He would fain have been filled with the 
husks that the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him. 
He said : ' How many servants of my father's have bread 
enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger ! I 
will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him: 
" Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, 
and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me 
as one of thy hired servants." 

" He arose, and came to his father. While he was yet 
afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with com- 
passion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 
The son said : ' Father, I have sinned against heaven, 
and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called 
thy son.' 



The Life of Jesus 327 

"But the father said to his servants: 'Bring forth the 
best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his 
hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf, 
and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my 
son was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found;' 
and they began to be merry. 

"Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came 
and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and danc- 
ing. He called one of the servants and asked what 
these things meant. The servant said: 'Thy brother 
is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, 
because he hath received him safe and sound.' The 
elder son was angry, and would not go in; and his 
father came out and entreated him. He said to his 
father: 'Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I 
never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet 
thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry 
with my friends. But as soon as this thy son came who 
hath devoured thy living with sinners, thou killed 
for him the fatted calf.' His father said: 'Son, thou 
art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. But it 
was meet to make merry and be glad; for this thy 
brother was dead, and is alive; and was lost, and is 
found.' " 

The Pharisees heard all these things, and they derided. 
Jesus said unto them: "Ye are they that justify your- 
selves in the sight of men ; but God knoweth your hearts. 
There was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in 



328 The Narrative Bible 

purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day; 
and a beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full 
of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that 
fell from the rich man's table. It came to pass, that the 
beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels 
into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and 
in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and 
seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
He cried and said: 'Father Abraham, have mercy on 
me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his 
finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for I am in anguish 
in this flame.' But Abraham said: 'Son, remember 
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, 
and Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and 
thou art in anguish. Besides all this, between us and 
you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they who would 
pass hence to you cannot.' The rich man said: 'I 
pray thee, that thou wouldest send him to my father's 
house; for I have five brethren, that he may testify 
unto them, lest they also come unto this place of 
torment.' Abraham saith: 'They have Moses and 
the prophets. Let them hear them.' He said: 'Nay, 
father Abraham; but if one go to them from the dead, 
they will repent.' Abraham said unto him: 'If they 
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be 
persuaded, if one rise from the dead.' ' 

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was sick. 
His sisters therefore sent, saying: "Lord, behold, he 
whom thou lovest is sick." 



The Life of Jesus 329 

When Jesus heard it, he abode two days in the place 
where he was. Then he saith to the disciples: " Let us 
go into Judaea again." 

The disciples say unto him: "Rabbi, the Jews of 
late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again ?" 

Jesus saith: "Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep. 
I go, that I may awake him." 

The disciples said: "Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he 
will recover." 

Howbeit Jesus had spoken of his death; but they 
thought he spake of taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus 
said unto them plainly: "Lazarus is dead. Let us go 
unto him." 

When Jesus came, he found that he had been in the 
tomb four days. Many of the Jews had come to Martha 
and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 
Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, 
went and met him; but Mary still sat in the house. 
Martha said unto Jesus: "Lord, if thou hadst been 
here, my brother had not died." 

Jesus saith unto her: " Thy brother shall rise." 

Martha saith : " I know that he shall rise in the resur- 
rection at the last day." 

Jesus said: "I am the resurrection, and the life. 
He that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he 
live." 

Martha went and called Mary her sister secretly, 
saying: " The Master is here, and calleth thee." 



330 The Narrative Bible 

Mary arose quickly, and went unto him. (Jesus was 
not yet come into the village, but was where Martha 
met him.) The Jews who were with Mary in the house, 
when they saw that she rose and went out, followed her, 
supposing that she was going unto the tomb to weep 
there. Mary, when she came where Jesus was, and 
saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him: " Lord, 
if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." 

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also 
weeping who came with her, he said: "Where have 
ye laid him ? " 

They say: " Lord, come and see." 

Jesus wept. The Jews said : " Behold how he loved 
him!" 

Jesus cometh to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone 
lay against it. Jesus saith: "Take ye away the stone." 

So they took away the stone; and Jesus lifted up his 
eyes, and said : " Father, I thank thee that thou hast 
heard me;" and he cried with a loud voice: " Lazarus, 
come forth." 

He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot 
with grave-clothes. Jesus saith unto them: "Loose 
him, and let him go." 

Many of the Jews, who beheld that which he did be- 
lieved on him. But some of them went away to the 
Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had 
done. The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees 
gathered a council, and said: "This man doeth many 



The Life of Jesus 331 

miracles. If we let him alone, all men will believe on 
him; and the Romans will come and take away our 
nation. Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said: 
" It is expedient that one man should die for the people, 
and that the whole nation perish not." 

So from that day they took counsel that they might 
put Jesus to death. Jesus therefore walked no more 
openly among the Jews; but departed into the country 
near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and 
there he tarried with his disciples. 

As he entered a certain village, there met him ten men 
that were lepers, who stood afar off, and lifted up their 
voices, saying: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 

He said unto them: "Go and show yourselves unto 
the priests." 

As they went, they were cleansed; and one of them, 
when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying 
God, and giving Jesus thanks; and he was a Samaritan. 

Jesus said: "Were not ten cleansed? But where 
are the nine? Were there none that returned to give 
glory to God, save this stranger?" and he said unto 
him: "Arise, and go thy way. Thy faith hath made 
thee whole." 

Being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of 
God should come, he answered : " The kingdom of God 
cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say: 
' Lo, here ! * or, ' Lo, there ! ' For the kingdom of God 
is within you." 



332 The Narrative Bible 

He spake a parable unto his disciples to the end that 
men ought always to pray, and not to faint, saying: 
"There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, 
and regarded not man; and there was a widow in that 
city; and she came oft unto him, saying: 'Avenge me 
of mine adversary.' He would not for a while; but 
afterward he said within himself: 'Though I fear not 
God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth 
me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her con- 
tinual coming.' The Lord said: 'Hear what the un- 
righteous judge saith; and shall not God avenge his 
elect, that cry to him day and night ? ' I say unto you, 
that he will avenge them speedily." 

He spake also this parable unto certain who trusted 
in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others 
at naught. " Two men went up into the temple to pray, 
the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The 
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: 'God, 
I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, ex- 
tortioners, unjust, or even as this publican. I fast twice 
in the week. I give tithes of all that I get.' But the 
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much 
as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying: 
' God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you : ' This man 
went to his house justified rather than the other.' " 

They brought unto him little children, that he should 
touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But 
Jesus was moved with indignation, and said: "Suffer 



The Life of Jesus 333 

the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; 
for of such is the kingdom of God;" and he took them 
in his arms, and blessed them. 

As he was going forth on his way, there ran one to 
him, and kneeled, and asked: "Good master, what 
shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ? " 

Jesus said unto him : " Thou knowest the command- 
ments." 

He said: "Master, all these have I observed from 
my youth." 

Jesus looking on him loved him, and said: "One 
thing thou lackest. Go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and 
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven ; 
and come, follow me." 

But his countenance fell at the saying; and he went 
away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. Jesus 
saith unto his disciples: "It is easier for a camel to 
go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to 
enter into the kingdom of God." 

They were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him: 
" Who then can be saved ? " 

Jesus said: "With men this is impossible; but with 
God all things are possible." 

Peter said : " Lo, we have left all, and followed thee 
What then shall we have ? " 

Jesus said: "Verily I say unto you that every one 
that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, 
or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, 



334 The Narrative Bible 

shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal 
life. But many shall be last that are first. For the 
kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a house- 
holder, who went out early in the morning to hire 
laborers into his vineyard; and when he had agreed 
with them for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vine- 
yard. He went out about the third hour, and saw 
others standing idle in the marketplace; and to them 
he said: * Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever 
is right I will give you ; ' and they went. Again he went 
out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did like- 
wise. About the eleventh hour he went out, and found 
others standing; and he saith unto them: 'Why stand 
ye here all the day idle ? ' They say : * Because no man 
hath hired us.' He saith : ' Go ye also into the vineyard/ 
" When even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith 
unto his steward: 'Call the laborers, and pay them 
their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.' 
They that were hired about the eleventh hour received 
every man a shilling. The first likewise received every 
man a shilling; and they murmured against the house- 
holder, saying: 'These last have spent but one hour, 
and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have 
borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 
He said to one of them: 'Friend, I do thee no wrong. 
Didst not thou agree with me for a shilling ? Take that 
which is thine, and go thy way. It is my will to give unto 
this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to 



The Life of Jesus 335 

do what I will with mine own?' So the last shall be 
first, and the first last." 

Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said: "Behold, 
we go to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be de- 
livered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be shamefully 
treated; and they shall scourge and kill him, and the 
third day he shall rise." 

There came near unto him James and John, the sons 
of Zebedee, saying: "Master, we would that thou 
shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee." 

He said : " What would ye that I should do for you ? " 

They said : " Grant unto us that we may sit, one on 
thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy glory." 

Jesus said : " Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able 
to drink the cup that I drink ? and be baptized with 
the baptism that I am baptized with ? " 

They said: "We are able." 

Jesus said: "The cup that I drink ye shall drink; 
and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall 
ye be baptized; but to sit on my right hand and on my 
left hand is not mine to give ; but it is for them for whom 
it hath been prepared of my Father." 

The ten were moved with indignation concerning the 
two brethren; but Jesus said : " Ye know that the rulers 
of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones 
exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among 
you. Whoever would be first among you shall be your 
servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be minis- 



336 The Narrative Bible 

tered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom 
for many." 

Jesus was passing through Jericho; and behold, a 
man named Zacchseus, who was a chief publican, and 
rich, sought to see Jesus, and could not for the crowd, 
because he was little of stature; and he ran on before, 
and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him. When 
Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said: 
"Zacchseus, make haste, and come down; for today I 
must abide at thy house." 

He made haste, and came down, and received Jesus 
joyfully. They all murmured, saying: "He is gone in 
to lodge with a man that is a sinner." 

Zacchseus said unto the Lord : " The half of my goods 
I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted 
aught of any man, I restore fourfold." 

Jesus said unto him: "Today is salvation come to 
this house." 

Jesus came to Bethany, and they made him a supper 
there, and Martha served. Mary took a pound of oint- 
ment, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus; 
and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 
Judas Iscariot saith: "Why was not this ointment 
sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor ? " 

This he said, not because he cared for the poor, but 
because he was a thief, and having the bag took away 
what was put therein. But Jesus said : " Let her alone. 
She hath wrought a good work on me. Ye have the 



The Life of Jesus 337 

poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can 
do them good; but me ye have not always. Verily I 
say unto you: 'Wherever the gospel shall be preached 
throughout the whole world, that which this woman 
hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.' " 

When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came to 
the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying: 
"Go into the village that is over against you, and ye 
shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. 
Loose him, and bring him; and if anyone say unto 
you: 'Why do ye this?' say: 'The Lord hath need 
of him.' " 

They went, and found a colt tied in the street; and 
they loose him. Certain of them that stood there said : 
" What do ye, loosing the colt ? " 

They said unto them even as Jesus had said; and 
they brought the colt to Jesus, and he sat on him. A 
great multitude that had come to the feast, when they 
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took 
branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him; 
and many spread their garments in the way, and others 
branches, which they had cut from the trees; and they 
that went before, and they that followed, cried: 
"Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that 
cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the 
highest." 

When Jesus drew nigh, he beheld the city and wept 
over it, saying : " The days shall come, when thine ene- 



338 The Narrative Bible 

mies shall dash thee to the ground, and they shall not 
leave in thee one stone on another." 

He entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and 
when he had looked round about on all things, it being 
now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the 
twelve. In the morning as he returned to the city, he 
hungered; and seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he 
came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; 
and he said unto it : " Let no fruit grow on thee hence- 
forward forever." 

Immediately the fig tree withered away. The dis- 
ciples marvelled, and Jesus said unto them: "Verily 
I say unto you: Tf ye have faith and doubt not, ye 
shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even 
if ye shall say unto this mountain : " Be thou taken up 
and cast into the sea," it shall be done. All things 
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall 
receive.' " 

When he was come into the temple, the chief priests 
and elders came unto him as he was teaching, and said : 
" By what authority doest thou these things ? " 

Jesus answered: "I also will ask you one question, 
which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what 
authority I do these things. The baptism of John, 
whence was it ? from heaven or from men ? " 

They reasoned with themselves, saying: " If we shall 
say: 'From heaven;' he will say: 'Why then did ye 
not believe him?' But if we shall say: 'From men;' 



The Life of Jesus 339 

we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet; " and 
they answered : " We cannot tell." 

He said unto them: "Neither tell I you by what 
authority I do these things. But what think ye? A 
man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said: 
' Son, go work today in the vineyard;' and the son said : 
'I will not;' but afterward he repented, and went. 
He came to the second, and said likewise; and the son 
said: 'I go, sir;' and went not. Which of the twain 
did the will of his father ? " 

They say: "The first." 

Jesus saith unto them: "Verily I say unto you, that 
the publicans and sinners go into the kingdom of God 
before you. For John came unto you in the way of 
righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publi- 
cans and sinners believed him; and ye did not even 
repent afterward. 

" Hear another parable. A man planted a vineyard, 
and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another 
country for a long time. At the season he sent unto 
the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him 
of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat 
him, and sent him away empty. He sent another 
servant; and him also they beat, and handled shame- 
fully, and sent him away empty. He sent yet a third, 
and him they wounded, and cast forth. The lord of the 
vineyard said : ' What shall I do ? I will send my 
beloved son. It may be they will reverence him.' 



340 The Narrative Bible 

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned 
among themselves, saying : ' This is the heir. Let us kill 
him, that the inheritance may be ours ; ' and they killed 
him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do 
unto them ? " 

They say unto him : " He will destroy those miserable 
men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husband- 
men, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons." 

Jesus saith: "Did ye never read in the scriptures: 

' The stone which the builders rejected, 

The same was made the head of the corner ? ' 

I say unto you: 'The kingdom of God shall be taken 

away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing 

forth the fruits thereof.' " 

The scribes and the chief priests watched him, and 
sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, 
that they might take hold of his words, so as to deliver 
him up to the authority of the governor; and they say 
unto him: "Master, we know that thou art true, and 
teachest the way of God, and carest not for anyone; 
for thou regard est not the person of men. Tell us there- 
fore : Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not ? " 

Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said: "Why 
tempt ye me, ye hypocrites ? Show me the tribute 
money." 

They brought him a penny; and he saith: "Whose 
is this image and superscription ? " 

They say unto him : "Caesar's." 



The Life of Jesus 341 

Then saith he unto them : " Render unto Caesar the 
things that are Csesar's, and unto God the things that 
are God's." 

When they heard these words, they marvelled, and 
went their way. 

The Jews said unto him : " What sign showest thou 
unto us ?" 

Jesus answered : " Destroy this temple, and in three 
days I will raise it up." 

The Jews said : " Forty and six years was this temple 
in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days ? " 

But he spake of the temple of his body. Then spake 
Jesus to the multitude, saying: "The scribes and the 
Pharisees bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, 
and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves 
will not move them with their finger. All their works 
they do to be seen of men; for they desire to walk in 
long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 
and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the chief 
places at feasts; who devour widows' houses, and for a 
pretence make long prayers. These shall receive 
greater condemnation. Woe unto you, scribes and 
Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom 
of heaven against men; for ye go not in yourselves, 
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 
Ye blind guides, that strain at a gnat, and swallow 
a camel. Ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which 



342 The Narrative Bible 

outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of 
dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye 
also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within 
ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. O Jerusalem, 
Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them 
that are sent unto thee ! How often would I have gathered 
thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chick- 
ens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your 
house is left unto you desolate." 

He sat down, and beheld how the people cast 
money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast 
in much; and there came a poor widow, and she threw 
in two mites, which make a farthing. He called his 
disciples, and said : " Verily I say unto you : ' This poor 
widow cast in more than all they that are casting into 
the treasury; for they did cast in of their abundance; 
but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all 
her living.' " 

Jesus went out from the temple, and as he sat on the 
mount of Olives, he began to say unto his disciples: 
" Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, and there 
shall be famines and earthquakes, and many false 
prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray. After 
the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, 
and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall 
fall from heaven. Then shall all the tribes of the earth 
see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power 
and great glory; and he shall send forth his angels with 



The Life of Jesus 343 

a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather to- 
gether his elect from one end of heaven to the other. 
But of that day knoweth no one. Therefore be ye 
ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man 
cometh. 

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto 
ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet 
the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five 
were wise. The foolish, when they took their lamps, 
took no oil with them; but the wise took oil with their 
lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slum- 
bered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry : ' Be- 
hold, the bridegroom! Come ye out to meet him.' 
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps: 
and the foolish said unto the wise: ' Give us of your oil, 
for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered: 
'Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you. 
Go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves/ 
While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; 
and they that were ready went in with him to the mar- 
riage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward come 
the other virgins, saying: 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' 
But he said : ' I know you not.' 

"It is as when a man, going into a far country, 
called his servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 
Unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another 
one; to each according to his ability; and he went on 
his journey. Then he that received the five talents 



344 The Narrative Bible 

went and traded with them, and made other five 
talents. In like manner he also that received the 
two gained other two. But he that received the one 
went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, 
and reckoneth with them. He that received the five 
talents came and brought other five talents, saying: 
'Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents. Lo, 
I have gained other five talents.' His lord said 
unto him: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. 
Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set 
thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy 
lord.' He also that received the two talents came and 
said: 'Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents. 
Lo, I have gained other two talents.' His lord said unto 
him: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou 
hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee 
over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.' 
He also that had received the one talent came and said : 
'Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping 
where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou 
didst not scatter; and I was afraid, and went and 
hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, thou hast thine 
own.' But his lord said: 'Thou wicked and slothful 
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, 
and gather where I did not scatter. Thou oughtest 
therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at 
my coming I should have received mine own with in- 



The Life of Jesus 345 

terest. Take ye therefore the talent from him, and give 
it unto him that hath the ten talents. For unto every 
one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abun- 
dance; but from him that hath not, even that which he 
hath shall be taken away ; and cast ye out the unprofit- 
able servant into the outer darkness.' 

" When the Son of Man shall come, and all the angels 
with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory; 
and before him shall be gathered all nations, and 
he shall separate them one from another, as a shep- 
herd separateth the sheep from the goats. He shall 
set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the 
left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right 
hand : ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the king- 
dom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ; 
for I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, 
and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me 
in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited 
me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.' Then shall 
the righteous answer, saying: ' Lord, when saw we thee 
hungry, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee drink ? 
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in ? 
or naked, and clothed thee? and when saw we thee 
sick, or in prison, and came unto thee ? ' The King shall 
answer: 'Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my 
brethren, ye did it unto me.' Then shall he say unto 
them on the left hand: 'Depart from me, ye cursed, 
into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his 



346 The Narrative Bible 

angels; for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat; 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink ; I was a stranger, 
and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; 
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.' Then shall 
they say : ' Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or 
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, 
and did not minister unto thee ? ' Then shall he answer : 
* Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to 
one of the least of these, ye did it not to me;' and these 
shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous 
into eternal life." 

Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple; and 
every night he went out, and lodged in the mount of 
Olives; and all the people came early in the morning 
to him in the temple, to hear him. The chief priests 
and the scribes sought how they might put him to death. 
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the 
chief priests, and said : " What are ye willing to give me, 
and I will deliver him unto you ?" 

They weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver; and 
from that time he sought opportunity to deliver Jesus 
unto them. 

The day of unleavened bread came, and Jesus sent 
Peter and John, saying: "Go and make ready for us 
the passover, that we may eat." 

They said unto him : " Where wilt thou that we make 
ready?" 

He said : " Behold, when ye are entered into the city, 



The Life of Jesus 347 

there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water. 
Follow him, and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to 
the goodman of the house: 'The Master saith unto 
thee: "Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat 
the passover with my disciples ? " He will show you 
a large upper room furnished. There make ready." 

They went, and found as he had said unto them; 
and they made ready the passover. When it was even- 
ing he cometh, and he sat down, and the apostles with 
him. During supper, Jesus riseth, and he took a towel, 
and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the 
basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe 
them with the towel. When he had washed their feet 
and sat down again, he said unto them: "Ye call me, 
'Master,' and, 'Lord;' and ye say well; for so I am. 
If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your 
feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet." 

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in 
spirit, and said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that 
one of you shall betray me." 

The disciples looked one on another, doubting of 
whom he spake. There was at the table reclining on 
Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 
Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, that he should 
ask who it should be. 

He, leaning back on Jesus' breast, saith: "Lord 
who is it ? " 



348 The Narrative Bible 

Jesus answered: "He it is, for whom I shall dip the 
sop,* and give it to him." 

So when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas, 
and Satan entered into him. Jesus said unto him: 
"That thou doest, do quickly." 

No man at the table knew for what intent he spake 
this. Some thought, because Judas had the bag, 
that Jesus said unto him: "Buy what things we have 
need of for the feast; " or that he should give something 
to the poor. He then having received the sop went 
out straightway; and it was night. 

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed 
and brake it; and he gave it to the disciples, and said: 
"Take, eat; this is my body;" and he took a cup, and 
gave thanks, and gave it to them saying: "Drink ye 
all of it; for this is my blood, which is shed for many;" 
and when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto 
the mount of Olives. 

Then saith Jesus unto them: "All ye shall be of- 
fended in me this night." 

Peter said : " I will never be offended." 

Jesus said: "This night, before the cock crow, thou 
shalt deny me thrice." 

Peter saith: "Even if I must die with thee, yet will 
I not denv thee." 

Likewise said all the disciples. 

Jesus said unto them: "Let not your heart be 

*A morsel of bread, or the like, dipped iu a liquid, before eating. 



The Life of Jesus 349 

troubled. In my Father's house are many mansions. 
I go to prepare a place for you; and I will come again, 
and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye 
may be also." 

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called 
Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples : " Sit ye here, 
while I go yonder and pray." 

He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. 
Then saith he unto them: "My soul is exceeding sor- 
rowful. Abide ye here, and watch with me." 

He went forward a little and fell on his face, and 
prayed, saying: "My Father, if it be possible, let this 
cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as 
Thou wilt." 

He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them 
sleeping, and saith unto Peter: "What, could ye not 
watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye 
enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, 
but the flesh is weak." 

A second time he went away, and prayed, saying: 
" My Father, if this cannot pass away, Thy will be done." 

He came again and found them sleeping, for their 
eyes were heavy; and they wist not what to answer 
him. He left them, and went away, and prayed a third 
time, saying again the same words. Then cometh he 
to the disciples, and saith: "Sleep on now. Behold, 
the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into 
the hands of sinners." 



350 The Narrative Bible 

Judas knew the place; for Jesus ofttimes resorted 
thither, and while Jesus yet spake, lo, Judas came, and 
with him a great multitude with lanterns and torches 
and weapons. Judas had given them a token, saying: 
" Whomsoever I kiss, that is he." 

Straightway he came to Jesus, and said: "Hail, 
Master;" and kissed him. 

Jesus said unto him: "Friend, do that for which 
thou art come." 

Then they laid hands on Jesus, and took him. Simon 
Peter having a sword drew it, and struck the high 
priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Jesus touched 
the ear, and healed it, and said unto Peter: "Put up 
thy sword into the sheath. The cup which the Father 
hath given me, shall I not drink it ? Thinkest thou that 
I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall send me 
more than twelve legions of angels ?" 

In that hour said Jesus to the multitude: "Are ye 
come out as against a thief with swords and staves 
to seize me ? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye 
took me not." 

Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. So the 
officers of the Jews bound Jesus, and led him to Annas, 
father-in-law to Caiaphas, the high priest. 

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another 
disciple. That disciple entered with Jesus into the 
court of the high priest; but Peter stood at the door 



The Life of Jesus 351 

without. The damsel that kept the door saith unto 
Peter: "Art thou also one of this man's disciples ?" 

He saith: " I am not." 

The servants and officers were standing there, having 
made a fire of coals; and they were warming them- 
selves ; and Peter was with them warming himself. 

The high priest asked Jesus of his disciples, and of 
his teaching. Jesus answered him: "I have spoken 
openly to the world. I ever taught in synagogues, and 
in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and 
in secret spake I nothing. Why askest thou me ? Ask 
them that have heard me, what I spake unto them." 

One of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his 
hand, saying: "Answerest thou the high priest so?" 

Jesus answered him: "If I have spoken evil, bear 
witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" 

Annas sent him away to the house of Caiaphas, 
where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 
Peter followed afar off, unto the court of the high 
priest, and went in, and sat with the officers, to see 
the end. The whole council sought false witness against 
Jesus, that they might put him to death, and found it 
not. For many bare false witness against him, yet 
their witness agreed not together. Afterward came 
two, and said : " This fellow said : ' I am able to destroy 
the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' " 

The high priest arose and said: "Answerest thou 
nothing?" 



352 The Narrative Bible 

But Jesus held his peace; and the high priest said: 
"I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us 
whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." 

Jesus said : " I am." 

Then the high priest rent his garments, saying: 
" He hath spoken blasphemy. What further need have 
we of witnesses. Ye have heard the blasphemy. What 
think ye ? " 

They answered : " He is worthy of death." 

Then did they spit in his face and buffet him; and 
some smote him with the palms of their hands; and 
they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying: "Pro- 
phesy unto us, thou Christ : who is he that struck thee ? " 

Peter was sitting without in the court; and a maid 
came unto him, saying: "Thou also wast with the 
Nazarene." 

But he denied before them all, saying: "Woman, 
I know him not." 

After a little while they that stood by said to Peter: 
"Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech 
bewrayeth thee." 

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying: "I 
know not the man." 

Straightway the cock crew, and Peter remembered 
the words which Jesus had said : " Before the cock crow, 
thou shalt deny me thrice;" and he went out, and wept 
bitterly. 

Judas, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, 



The Life of Jesus 353 

repented, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver 
to the chief priests and elders, saying: "I have sinned 
in that I betrayed innocent blood." 

But they said : " What is that to us ? " 

He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, 
and he went away and hanged himself. The chief 
priests took the pieces of silver, and said: "It is not 
lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are 
the price of blood;'' and they took counsel, and bought 
with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 

They led Jesus away to Pilate the governor into the 
hall of judgment, and they themselves entered not. 
Pilate went out unto them, and saith: "What accu- 
sation bring ye against this man ? " 

They said: "We found him perverting our nation, 
and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying 
that he is Christ a king." 

Pilate said: "Take him yourselves, and judge him 
according to your law." 

The Jews said: "It is not lawful for us to put any 
man to death." 

Pilate entered into the judgment hall, and called 
Jesus, and said unto him: "Art thou the king of the 
Jews ? " 

Jesus answered: "My kingdom is not of this world. 
If my kingdom were of this world, then would my 
servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. 
I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto 



354 The Narrative Bible 

the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my 
voice." 

Pilate went out again unto the Jews, and saith: "I 
find no crime in him." 

But they were the more urgent, saying : " He stirreth 
up the people." 

Pilate asked whether the man were a Galilsean; and 
and when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, 
he sent him to Herod, who was at Jerusalem in those 
days. When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad; 
for he was a long time desirous to see him, because 
he had heard concerning him, and hoped to see some 
miracle done by him. He questioned him in many 
words, but Jesus answered nothing; and the chief 
priests and scribes stood vehemently accusing him. 
Herod with his soldiers set him at naught, and mocked 
him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him 
back to Pilate. 

Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers 
and the people, and said: "Ye brought unto me this 
man, as one that perverteth the people, and behold, I, 
having examined him, found no fault in this man touch- 
ing those things whereof ye accuse him. No, nor yet 
Herod ; for he sent him back. Nothing worthy of death 
hath been done by him. I will therefore chastise him, 
and release him." 

At the feast the governor was wont to release unto the 
people a prisoner, whom they asked of him; and there 



The Life of Jesus 355 

was one named Barabbas, who for a certain insur- 
rection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into 
prison. Pilate said: "Whom will ye that I release 
unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 

While he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife 
sent unto him, saying: "Have thou nothing to do with 
that righteous man; for I have suffered many things 
this day in a dream because of him." 

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the 
multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and de- 
stroy Jesus. The governor said: "Which of the 
twain shall I release unto you ? " 

They said: "Barabbas." 

Pilate saith unto them: "What then shall I do with 
Jesus who is called Christ ?" 

They all say: " Let him be crucified." 

Pilate said : " Why, what evil hath he done ? " 

But they cried out exceedingly, saying: "Crucify 
him." 

When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but 
rather that^a tumult was arising, he took water, and 
washed his hands before the multitude, saying: "I 
am innocent of the blood of this just person. See ye 
to it." 

All the people answered: "His blood be on us, and 
on our children." 

Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he 
scourged and delivered to be crucified. 



356 The Narrative Bible 

The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the 
palace, and put on him a scarlet robe, and they platted 
a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in 
his right hand; and they kneeled before him, and 
mocked him, saying: "Hail, King of the Jews!" and 
they spat on him, and took the reed and smote him on 
the head. After they had mocked him, they took off 
the robe, and led him away to crucify him; and they 
compel one passing by, coming from the country, to 
go with them, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after 
Jesus. There followed a great multitude of the people, 
and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 

They bring him unto a place called Golgotha, which 
is, being interpreted, the place of a skull. Jesus said: 
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they 
do." 

They crucified him, and with him two robbers; one 
on his right hand, and one on his left. The soldiers 
took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier 
a part. Now the coat was without seam, woven from 
the top throughout. They said therefore one to another: 
" Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be." 

These things the soldiers did, and they sat and 
watched him there. 

Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross; and 
there was written: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King 
or the Jews." This title read many of the Jews; for 
the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city ; 



The Life of Jesus 357 

and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in 
Greek. The chief priests said to Pilate: "Write not: 
'The King of the Jews;' but, that he said: 'I am 
King of the Jews.' " 

Pilate answered: "What I have written I have 
written." 

They that passed by reviled Jesus, wagging their 
heads, and saying: "Ha! thou that destroyest the tem- 
ple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou 
art the Son of God, come down from the cross." 

In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, 
with the scribes and elders, said: "He saved others; 
himself he cannot save. Let him come down from the 
cross, and we will believe on him." 

One of the malefactors that were crucified with him 
railed on him, saying: "If thou be Christ save thyself 
and us." 

But the other rebuking him said: "Dost thou not 
fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? 
and we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of 
our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss;" 
and he said: "Lord, remember me when thou comest 
into thy kingdom." 

Jesus said unto him : " Today shalt thou be with me 
in Paradise." 

There were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, 
and his mother's sister, and Mary Magdalene. When 
Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, 



358 The Narrative Bible 

whom he loved, he saith unto his mother: "Woman, 
behold, thy son!" 

Then saith he to the disciple: "Behold, thy mother!" 
and the disciple took her unto his own home. 

From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the 
land until the ninth hour; and about the ninth hour 
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: "My God, my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me ?" 

Some of them that stood there said: "This man 
calleth Elijah." 

One of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with 
vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 
The rest said: "Let be; let us see whether Elijah 
will come to save him." 

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up 
his spirit; and behold, the veil of the temple was rent 
in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did 
quake; and the rocks were rent; and the tombs were 
opened; and many bodies of the saints were raised, 
and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection 
they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. 
The centurion, and they that were with him watching 
Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things 
that were done, feared exceedingly, saying: "Truly 
this was the Son of God." 

All the multitudes that came together, when they 
beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their 
breasts. The soldiers saw that Jesus was dead, and 



The Life of Jesus 359 

one of them with a spear pierced his side, and straight- 
way there came out blood and water. 

When even was come, there came a rich man from 
Arimathsea, named Joseph, a good man and righteous. 
This man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of 
Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be delivered; and 
Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen 
cloth. In the place where Jesus was crucified there was 
a garden; and in the garden a new tomb which had 
been hewn out of a rock, wherein was never man yet 
laid. Joseph laid the body in this tomb, and he rolled a 
great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. 

The women who had come with Jesus out of Galilee 
beheld the tomb, and they returned, and prepared spices 
and ointments. 

On the morrow, the chief priests and the Pharisees 
were gathered together unto Pilate, saying: "Sir, we 
remember that deceiver said: 'After three days I rise.' 
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure 
until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal 
him away, and say unto the people : ' He is risen from 
the dead ; ' and the last error will be worse than the first." 

Pilate said unto them: "Ye have a guard. Go your 
way. Make it as sure as ye can." 

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing 
the stone, and setting a guard. 

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, Mary 
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, came 



360 The Narrative Bible 

unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had 
prepared; and behold, an angel of the Lord descended 
from heaven, and rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 
His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment 
white as snow; and for fear of him the watchers became 
as dead men. The angel said unto the women: "Fear 
not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus who was 
crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he 
said. Go quickly and tell his disciples." 

They departed from the tomb with fear and great 
joy, and ran, and told the eleven and all the rest. These 
words appeared as idle talk to the apostles and they 
believed them not; but Peter arose, and ran to the tomb ; 
and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths, 
and he departed wondering at that which was come 
to pass. 

Mary was standing at the tomb weeping. She 
stooped and looked in; and she beholdeth two angels 
in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, 
where the body of Jesus had lain. They say unto her: 
" Woman, why weepest thou ? " 

She saith: " Because they have taken away my Lord, 
and I know not where they have laid him." 

When she had thus said, she turned herself, and 
saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 
Jesus saith unto her: "Woman, whom seekest thou?" 

She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith: "Sir, 



The Life of Jesus 361 

if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast 
laid him, and I will take him away." 

Jesus saith: "Mary." 

She saith unto him : " Master." 

Jesus saith: "Go to my brethren, and say, I ascend 
unto my Father." 

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that 
she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these 
things unto her. 

Some of the guard came into the city, and told unto 
the chief priests all the things that were come to pass; 
and the chief priests gave large money unto the soldiers, 
saying: "Say ye: 'His disciples came by night, and 
stole him away while we slept;' and if this come to the 
governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of 
care." 

So they took the money, and did as they were taught ; 
and this saying spread abroad among the Jews. 

Two of Jesus' followers were going to a village 
named Emmaus; and while they communed and ques- 
tioned together, Jesus himself drew near, and went 
with them. But their eyes were holden that they should 
not know him. He said unto them : " What communica- 
tions are these that ye have one with another, as 
ye walk?" 

One of them answering said : " Dost thou sojourn in 
Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to 
pass there in these days ? " 



362 The Narrative Bible 

He said: " What things ? " 

They said: "The things concerning Jesus of Naza- 
reth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word; 
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him 
up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. We 
hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. It is 
now the third day since these things were done. 
Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, 
having been early at the tomb, when they found not his 
body, they came, saying that they had seen a vision 
of angels, who said that he was alive. Certain of them 
that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even 
so as the women had said; but him they saw not." 

He said unto them: "O foolish men, and slow of 
heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. 
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to 
enter into his glory ? " 

They drew nigh unto the village, whither they were 
going, and he made as if he would go further. They 
constrained him, saying: "Abide with us; for it is 
toward evening, and the day is far spent." 

He went in with them, and when he had sat down 
with them to meat, he took the bread, and blessed it, 
and brake, and gave to them; and their eyes were 
opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of 
their sight. They said one to another: "Did not our 
heart burn within us, while he spake to us in the 
way?" 



The Life of Jesus 363 

They rose up that very hour, and returned to Jeru- 
salem, and found the eleven, and them that were with 
them, and they told the things that happened. As 
they spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, 
and saith: "Peace be unto you." 

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed 
that they beheld a spirit. He said unto them: "Why 
are ye troubled ? and wherefore do reasonings arise 
in your hearts ? Behold my hands and my feet; handle 
me; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold 
me having." 

While they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, 
he said : " Have ye here anything to eat ? " 

They gave him a piece of broiled fish; and he took 
it, and did eat before them. 

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, 
was not with them when Jesus came. The other 
disciples therefore said unto him: "We have seen the 
Lord." 

He said: "Except I shall see in his hands the print 
of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the 
nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not 
believe." 

After eight days again his disciples were within, and 
Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being 
shut, and stood in their midst, and said: "Peace be 
unto you." Then saith he to Thomas: "Reach hither 
thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy 



364 The Narrative Bible 

hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, 
but believing." 

Thomas said unto him: "My Lord and my God." 

Jesus saith : " Because thou hast seen me, thou hast 
believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet 
have believed." 

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the 
sea of Tiberias. There were together Simon Peter, 
and Thomas, and Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee, 
and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter saith: 
"I go a-fishing." 

They say : " We also go with thee." 

They entered into the boat; and that night they took 
nothing; but when day was breaking, Jesus stood on 
the shore. Howbeit the disciples knew not that it was 
Jesus. He saith unto them : " Children, have ye aught 
to eat ? " 

They answered: "No." 

He said unto them : " Cast the net on the right side 
of the boat, and ye shall find." 

They cast therefore, and now they were not able to 
draw it for the multitude of fishes. That disciple whom 
Jesus loved saith unto Peter: " It is the Lord." 

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he 
girt his coat about him, and cast himself into the sea; 
but the other disciples came in the little boat dragging 
the net full of fishes. As soon as they got out on the 



The Life of Jesus 365 

land, they saw a fire of coals, and fish laid thereon, and 
bread. Simon Peter drew the net to land, full of great 
fishes, a hundred and fifty and three; and for all there 
were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith 
unto them: " Come and break your fast." 

None of the disciples durst ask him: "Who art 
thou ? " knowing that it was the Lord. 

Jesus taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the 
fish likewise. When they had broken their fast, Jesus 
saith to Simon Peter: "Simon, lovest thou me more 
than these ? " 

Peter saith : " Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I love 
thee." 

Jesus saith: "Feed my lambs." 

He saith to him a second time: "Simon, lovest thou 
me?" 

Peter saith: "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love 
thee." 

Jesus saith: "Feed my sheep." 

He saith the third time: "Simon, lovest thdu me?" 

Peter was grieved, and he said: " Lord, thou knowest 
all things. Thou knowest that I love thee." 

Jesus saith unto him: "Feed my sheep. Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee: 'When thou wast young, thou 
girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; 
but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy 
hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee 
whither thou wouldest not.' " 



366 The Narrative Bible 

This he spake, signifying by what manner of death 
Peter should glorify God. 

The eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the moun- 
tain where Jesus had appointed them; and Jesus 
came to them and spake, saying: "All authority hath 
been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye 
therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, bap- 
tizing them to the name of the Father and of the Son 
and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all 
things I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, 
even unto the end of the world." 

He lifted up his hands, and blessed them; and it came 
to pass while he blessed them, he was carried up into 
heaven ; and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 



XXI 



THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 

JESUS showed himself alive after his passion by many 
proofs, appearing unto the apostles whom he had 
chosen by the space of forty days, and he charged them 
not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the prom- 
ise of the Father. When they were come together, he 
said: "Ye shall be my witnesses in all Judaea and 
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 

As they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud 
received him out of their sight. While they were look- 
ing steadfastly toward heaven, behold, two men stood by 
them in white apparel, who said : " Ye men of Galilee, 
why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? This Jesus shall 
come in like manner as ye beheld him going." 

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount 
called Olivet; and they went into the upper chamber 
where they were abiding. In these days Peter stood up, 
and said: "Brethren, it was needful that the scripture 
should be fulfilled concerning Judas, who was guide 
to them that took Jesus. It is written in the book of 
Psalms : 

* Let his habitation be made desolate, 
And let no man dwell therein. 
His office let another take/ 



368 The Narrative Bible 

Of the men therefore who have companied with us 
must one become a witness with us of the resurrection.' ' 

They gave lots, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he 
was numbered with the eleven apostles. 

When the day of Pentecost was come, they were all 
gathered together; and suddenly there came from 
heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and 
it filled all the house where they were sitting; and there 
appeared tongues like as of fire, and sat on each one of 
them; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and 
began to speak with other tongues. There were dwell- 
ing at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation 
under heaven; and when this sound was heard, the 
multitude came together, and were confounded, because 
every man heard them speaking in his own language. 
They were all amazed and marvelled, saying: "Are 
not all these that speak Galilseans ? and how hear we, 
every man in our own language ? " 

Others mocking said: "They are filled with new 
wine." 

Peter, standing up, spake forth, saying: "Ye men of 
Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, hearken 
to my words. This is that which hath been spoken 
by the prophet Joel : 

* And it shall come to pass in the last days,' saith God, 

' I will pour forth of my Spirit on all flesh; 
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
And I will show wonders in the heaven above, 
And signs on the earth beneath.' 



The Acts of the Apostles 369 

"Ye men of Israel; Jesus of Nazareth, ye did crucify 
by the hand of lawless men. This Jesus hath God 
raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. Let all the 
house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made 
him both Lord and Christ." 

When they heard this, they were pricked in their 
heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles : 
" Brethren, what shall we do ? " 

Peter said: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one 
of you in the name of Jesus Christ;" and with many 
other words he testified and exhorted, and there were 
added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. 

Peter and John were going into the temple at the hour 
of prayer; and a certain man that was lame from his 
birth, and who was laid daily at the door of the temple 
which is called "Beautiful," to ask alms, seeing Peter 
and John, asked to receive an alms. 

Peter said: "Silver and gold have I none; but what 
I have that I give thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of 
Nazareth, rise up and walk." 

He took him by the right hand, and lifted him up. 
Immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received 
strength. He stood, and began to walk; and he entered 
with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and 
praising God. As he held Peter and John, all the people 
ran together unto them greatly wondering; and Peter 
said : " Why marvel ye at this man ? or why look ye so 
earnestly on us, as though by our own power we had 



370 The Narrative Bible 

made him to walk? The God of Abraham, and of 
Isaac, and of Jacob, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom 
ye killed. Faith in his name hath made this man strong ; 
and now, brethren, I wot that in ignorance ye did it. 
Repent ye therefore, that your sins may be blotted out. ,, 

The priests and the captain of the temple and the 
Sadducees, being sore troubled because they proclaimed 
in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, laid hands 
on them and put them in ward. On the morrow, the 
rulers and elders and scribes gathered together, and 
when they had set Peter and John in the midst, they 
asked: "By what power, or in what name, did ye do 
this?" 

Peter said: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Naza- 
reth, whom ye crucified. In none other is there 
salvation." 

They conferred among themselves, saying: "What 
shall we do to these men ? for that a notable miracle 
hath been done by them, is manifest to all that dwell 
in Jerusalem ; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread 
no further among the people, let us threaten them, 
that they speak henceforth to no man in this name." 

So they commanded them not to speak at all in the 
name of Jesus ; but Peter and John answered : "Whether 
it be right to hearken unto you rather than unto God, 
judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things which we 
saw and heard." 

The rulers and the elders, when they had further 



The Acts of the Apostles 371 

threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they 
might punish them, because of the people; for all men 
glorified God for that which was done. 

The multitude of them that believed were of one 
heart and soul; and they had all things common. 
As many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, 
and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' 
feet; and distribution was made unto each, according 
as anyone had need. But a man named Ananias, 
with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept 
back part of the price, and brought a certain part, 
and laid it at the apostles' feet. Peter said : " Ananias, 
why hath Satan filled thy heart to keep back part of 
the price? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto 
God." 

Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up 
the ghost; and the young men arose and wrapped him 
up, and they carried him out and buried him. 

About the space of three hours after, his wife, not 
knowing what was done, came in. Peter said: "Tell 
me whether ye sold the land for so much." 

She said : " Yea, for so much." 

Peter said unto her : " How is it that ye have agreed 
together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord ? Behold, the 
feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the 
door, and they shall carry thee out." 

She fell down, and the young men came in and found 
her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by 



372 The Narrative Bible 

her husband ; and great fear came on as many as heard 
these things. 

By the hands of the apostles were many signs and 
wonders wrought among the people; and believers were 
added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women; 
insomuch that they brought out the sick into the 
streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as 
Peter came by, at the least his shadow might over- 
shadow them. There also came together a multitude 
from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick 
folk, and they were healed every one. 

The high priest and all they that were with him were 
filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and 
put them in prison. But an angel of the Lord by night 
opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and 
said : " Go ye, and speak in the temple to the people." 

They entered into the temple about daybreak, and 
taught. The high priest called the council together, 
and sent to the prison to have them brought; but the 
officers found them not in the prison, and returned 
saying: "The prison we found shut, and the keepers 
standing at the doors; but when we had opened, we 
found no man within." 

When the captain of the temple and the chief priests 
heard these words, they were much perplexed; and 
there came one and told them: " Behold, the men whom 
ye put in prison are in the temple teaching the people." 

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought 



The Acts of the Apostles 373 

them. The high priest said : " We straitly charged you 
not to teach in this name; and ye have filled Jerusalem 
with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's 
blood on us." 

Peter and the apostles answered: "We must obey 
God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised 
up Jesus, whom ye slew, to be a Prince and a Savior." 

When they heard this, they were minded to slay 
them; but there stood up one of the council, named 
Gamaliel, and commanded to put the apostles forth a 
little while; and he said: "Ye men of Israel, take heed 
to yourselves what ye are about to do. Before these 
days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; 
to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined 
themselves. He was slain, and all who obeyed him 
were scattered, and came to nought. Now I say unto 
you: ' Refrain from these men, and let them alone; 
for if this work be of men, it will be overthrown; but 
if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them.' ! 

To him they agreed, and when they had called the 
apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak 
in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They therefore 
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing 
that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for 
his name; and every day, in the temple and at home, 
they ceased not to preach Jesus as the Christ. 

There arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against 
the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in 



374 The Narrative Bible 

the daily ministration. The twelve called the multitude 
of the disciples unto them, and said : " It is not fit that 
we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. 
Look ye out from among you seven men of good re- 
port, whom we may appoint over this business." 

The saying pleased the multitude; and they chose 
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and 
Philip, and five others. Stephen, full of grace and 
power, wrought great wonders and miracles among the 
people; but there arose certain disputing with Stephen, 
and they were not able to withstand the wisdom and 
the Spirit by which he spake. Then they stirred up the 
people, and the elders, and the scribes, and seized him, 
and brought him to the council, and set up false 
witnesses, who said: "This man ceaseth not to speak 
against this holy place, and the law; for we have heard 
him say, that Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, 
and shall change the customs which Moses delivered 
unto us." 

All that sat in the council saw his face as it had been 
the face of an angel; and the high priest said: "Are 
these things so ? " 

He said: "As your fathers did, so do ye. Which of 
the prophets did not your fathers persecute ? and they 
killed them that showed the coming of the Righteous 
One; of whom ye have become betrayers and mur- 
derers." 

When they heard these things, they were cut to the 



The Acts of the Apostles 375 

heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But 
he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly 
into heaven, and said: "Behold, I see the heavens 
opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand 
of God." 

They cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their 
ears, and rushed on him with one accord; and they 
cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the wit- 
nesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man 
named Saul. Stephen kneeled down, and cried with a 
loud voice: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." 

When he had said this, he fell asleep; and Saul was 
consenting unto his death. 

There arose a great persecution against the church 
which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered 
abroad throughout the regions of Judsea and Samaria, 
except the apostles. Saul laid waste the church, enter- 
ing into every house, and dragging away men and 
women committed them to prison. They that were 
scattered abroad went about preaching the word; 
and Philip went to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed 
unto them the Christ. 

An angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying: 
" Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that 
goeth from Jerusalem to Gaza." 

He arose and went; and behold, a man of Ethiopia, 
an officer of great authority, who had come to Jerusalem 
to worship, and was returning sitting in his chariot, 



376 The Narrative Bible 

and reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip ran to him, and 
said : " Understandest thou what thou readest ? " 

He said: "How can I, except someone shall guide 
me?" and he besought Philip to come up and sit 
with him. 

The place of the scriptures which he read was this : 

" He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; 
And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, 
So he opened not his mouth." 

The officer said: "I pray thee, of whom speaketh 
the prophet this ? " 

Philip, beginning from this scripture, preached unto 
him Jesus. As they went on their way, they came 
unto a certain water; and the officer said: "What 
doth hinder me to be baptized ?" 

He commanded the chariot to stand still; and they 
both went down into the water, and Philip baptized 
him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit 
of the Lord caught away Philip, and the officer saw him 
no more. But Philip was found at Azotus; and he 
preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to 
Caesarea. 

Saul, breathing threatening and slaughter against 
the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 
and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the syna- 
gogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, 
he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he drew 



The Acts of the Apostles 377 

nigh unto Damascus, suddenly there shone round 
about him a light out of heaven; and he fell to the 
earth, and heard a voice saying unto him: "Saul, 
Saul, why persecutest thou me ? " 

He said : " Who art thou, Lord ? " 

The voice said: " I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 
Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what 
thou must do." 

The men that journeyed with him stood speechless, 
hearing the voice, but beholding no man. Saul arose 
from the earth; and he saw nothing; and they led him 
by the hand and brought him into Damascus. He was 
three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. 

There was a certain disciple at Damascus, named 
Ananias, and the Lord said unto him in a vision: 
"Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, 
and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul; 
for behold, he prayeth; and he hath seen in a vision a 
man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands 
on him, that he might receive his sight." 

Ananias answered: "Lord, I have heard from many 
of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints 
at Jerusalem ; and here he hath authority from the chief 
priests to bind all that call on Thy name." 

But the Lord said unto him: " Go thy way; for he is 
a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the 
Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel." 

Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and 



378 The Narrative Bible 

laying his hands on him said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, 
who appeared unto thee in the way which thou earnest, 
hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and 
be filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, 
and he received his sight; and he arose and was bap- 
tized; and he took food and was strengthened. He was 
certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus; 
and in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus. All that 
heard him were amazed, and said: "Is not this he that 
in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this 
name ? " 

The Jews took counsel together to kill him ; but their 
plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates 
day and night; but his disciples took him by night, 
and let him down through the wall in a basket. 

When he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join 
himself to the disciples; and they were all afraid of 
him. But Barnabas brought him to the apostles; and 
declared unto them how Saul had seen the Lord in the 
way, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly 
in the name of Jesus; and Saul was with them going in 
and going out, preaching in the name of the Lord. 

Peter came to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. Now 
there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, 
which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman 
was full of good works, and she fell sick, and died, and 
they laid her in an upper chamber. As Lydda was nigh 



The Acts of the Apostles 379 

to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, 
sent two men entreating him that he would not delay 
to come to them. 

Peter went with them; and when he was come, they 
brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows 
stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and gar- 
ments which Dorcas made. But Peter put them all 
forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to 
the body, he said : " Tabitha, arise." 

She opened her eyes; and he gave her his hand, and 
raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he 
presented her alive. It became known throughout all 
Joppa, and many believed on the Lord; and Peter 
tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. 

There was a man in Csesarea, Cornelius by name, 
a centurion, a devout man that feared God with all 
his house, who gave much alms to the people. He saw 
in a vision an angel of God coming in unto him, and 
saying: "Cornelius, thy prayers and thine alms are 
gone up for a memorial before God. Now send men 
to Joppa, and fetch one Peter. He lodgeth with Simon 
a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 

When the angel was departed, Cornelius called two 
of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them 
that waited on him continually; and having rehearsed 
all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 

On the morrow, as they were on their journey, and 
drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up on the housetop 



380 The Narrative Bible 

to pray, about the sixth hour; and he became hungry 
and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell 
into a trance; and he saw the heaven opened, and a 
vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down 
by four corners on the earth; wherein were all manner 
of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth 
and fowls of the air. There came a voice to him: 
"Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 

But Peter said: "Not so, Lord; for I have never 
eaten anything that is common and unclean." 

The voice spake unto him the second time : " What 
God hath cleansed, call not thou common." 

This was done thrice, and the vessel was received 
up into heaven. While Peter was much perplexed what 
the vision might mean, behold, the men that were sent 
by Cornelius stood before the gate, and asked whether 
Peter were lodging there. While Peter thought on the 
vision, the Spirit said unto him: "Behold, three men 
seek thee. Go with them, nothing doubting; for I have 
sent them." 

Peter went down to the men, and said: "I am he 
whom ye seek. What is the cause wherefore ye are 

They said: "Cornelius a centurion was warned of 
God to send for thee into his house, and to hear words 
from thee." 

So Peter called them in and lodged them, and on the 
morrow he went forth with them. They entered into 



The Acts of the Apostles 381 

Csesarea, and Cornelius was waiting for them, and had 
called together his kinsmen and near friends. When 
Peter entered, Cornelius fell down at his feet, and 
worshipped him. But Peter raised him up, saying: 
" Stand up. I myself also am a man." 

He found many come together; and he said unto 
them : " Ye know that it is unlawful for a Jew to come 
unto one of another nation ; and yet unto me hath God 
showed that I should not call any man common or un- 
clean. Therefore I came, when I was sent for. Of a 
truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; 
but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh 
righteousness, is acceptable to Him." 

While Peter yet spake, the Holy Spirit fell on all them 
that heard the word. 

The apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea 
heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of 
God; and when Peter was come to Jerusalem, they 
contended with him; but Peter expounded the matter 
unto them; and they glorified God, saying: "Then to 
the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto 
life." 

Herod the king killed James the brother of John; 
and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded 
to seize Peter. He put him in prison, and delivered him 
to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending 
after the passover to bring him forth to the people. 
Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but prayer was 



382 The Narrative Bible 

made earnestly of the church unto God for him. When 
Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night 
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with 
chains; and guards before the door kept the prison; 
and behold, an angel stood by him, and a light shined 
in the cell. The angel smote Peter on the side, and 
awoke him, saying: "Rise up quickly." 

His chains fell off, and the angel said : " Gird thy- 
self, and bind on thy sandals." 

He did so, and the angel saith: " Follow me." 

Peter followed ; and he wist not that it was true which 
was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. 
When they were past the first and the second ward, they 
came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; 
which opened to them of its own accord. They went out, 
and passed through one street, and the angel departed. 
When Peter was come to himself, he said: "Now I 
know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent his angel and 
delivered me out of the hand of Herod." 

He came to the house of Mary the mother of Mark; 
where many were together praying. When he knocked 
at the gate, a damsel came to answer; and when she 
knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, 
but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate. 
They said unto her: "Thou art mad." 

But she confidently affirmed that it was even so; and 
they said : " It is his angel." 

Peter continued knocking; and when they had 



The Acts of the Apostles 383 

opened, they saw him, and were astonished. But he, 
beckoning unto them to hold their peace, declared how 
the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison; 
and he departed to another place. 

As soon as it was day, there was no small stir among 
the soldiers, what was become of Peter; and when 
Herod sought for him, and found him not, he examined 
the guards, and commanded that they should be put to 
death. 

Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and 
Sidon; and they came to him, and asked for peace. 
Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the 
throne, and made an oration unto them; and the people 
shouted, saying: "It is the voice of a god, and not 
of a man." 

Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, be- 
cause he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten of 
worms, and gave up the ghost. 

There were at Antioch in the church that was there, 
Barnabas and Saul, and they, being sent forth by the 
Holy Spirit, sailed to Cyprus, and proclaimed the word 
of God. When they had gone through the whole island, 
Saul, who is also called Paul, and his company, set sail, 
and came to Perga, and they went thence to Iconium. 
Long time they tarried there speaking boldly in the 
Lord. But the multitude of the city was divided, and 
part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles; 
and when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles 



384 The Narrative Bible 

and of the Jews to stone them, they fled unto Lystra. 
At Lystra there sat a man impotent in his feet, who had 
never walked. The same heard Paul speaking; and 
Paul seeing that he had faith said : " Stand upright on 
thy feet." 

He leaped up and walked, and the multitude lifted 
up their voices, saying: "The gods are come down to 
us in the likeness of men." 

They called Barnabas, "Jupiter;" and Paul, "Mer- 
cury," because he was the chief speaker; and the priest 
of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought 
oxen and garlands and would have done sacrifice with 
the multitude. When Barnabas and Paul heard of it, 
they rent their garments, and ran in among the people, 
crying out and saying: "Sirs, why do ye these things ? 
We are men of like passions with you, and bring you 
good tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities 
unto the living God, who made the heaven and the 
earth and the sea, and all that in them is." 

With these sayings scarce restrained they the people 
from doing sacrifice unto them. There came Jews 
thither from Iconium, and having persuaded the multi- 
tude, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the 
city, supposing that he was dead. But as the dis- 
ciples stood round about him, he rose up, and the 
next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe. They 
preached the gospel to that city, and after visiting 
various other cities, they returned to Antioch, and re- 



The Acts of the Apostles 385 

hearsed all things that God had done with them, and 
how he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. 

After some time Paul chose Silas, and went through 
Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. He came 
also to Lystra, and a certain disciple was there, named 
Timothy. Him would Paul have to go with him; and 
they went to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia. 
On the Sabbath Day they went forth by a river side, 
and they sat down, and spake unto the women who 
were come together. A woman named Lydia heard 
them, whose heart the Lord opened, to give heed unto 
the things which were spoken by Paul. When she was 
baptized, she besought them, saying: "Come into my 
house, and abide there;" and she constrained them. 

As they were going to the place of prayer, a certain 
maid having a spirit of divination met them, who 
brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The 
same followed after them, and cried out: "These men 
are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto 
us the way of salvation." 

This she did for many days. Paul, being sore troubled, 
turned and said to the spirit : " I charge thee in the name 
of Jesus Christ to come out of her." 

It came out that very hour; but when her masters 
saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold 
on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market- 
place before the rulers, and said: "These men do 



•386 The Narrative Bible 

exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs which 
it is not lawful for us to observe." 

The magistrates commanded to beat them with 
rods; and when they had laid many stripes on them, 
they cast them into prison, and the jailor made their 
feet fast in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas 
were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the 
prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was 
a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison 
were shaken; and immediately all the doors were 
opened, and everyone's bands were loosed. The jailor 
being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors 
open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, 
supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul 
cried with a loud voice, saying: "Do thyself no harm; 
for we are all here." 

The jailor called for lights, and fell down before Paul 
and Silas, and brought them out, and said: "Sirs, 
what must I do to be saved ? " 

They said : " Believe on the Lord Jesus." 

They spake the word of the Lord unto him. and to all 
that were in his house ; and he took them the same hour 
of the night, and washed their stripes, and was bap- 
tized, he and all his; and he brought them into his 
house, and set meat before them, and rejoiced greatly. 

When it was day, the magistrates sent, saying : " Let 
those men go." 

The jailor reported the words to Paul; but Paul said : 



The Acts of the Apostles 387 

"They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men 
that are Romans, and have cast us into prison. Let 
them come themselves and fetch us out." 

The magistrates feared, when they heard that they 
were Romans; and they came and besought them; 
and when they had brought them out, they asked them 
to depart out of the city. 

They departed, and Paul journeyed until he came 
to Athens. His spirit was provoked within him, as he 
beheld the city full of idols. So he reasoned in the syna- 
gogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the 
marketplace every day with them that met with him. 
Certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers 
encountered him; and some said: "What would 
this babbler say ?" Others: "He seemeth to be a setter 
forth of strange gods." 

They took hold of him and brought him unto the 
Areopagus,* saying: "May we know what this new 
teaching is, whereof thou speakest?" 

Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning 
there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell 
or to hear some new thing. Paul stood, and said: 
"Ye men of Athens, I perceive that ye are somewhat 
superstitious. For as I passed along, and observed 
the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this 
inscription: 'to an unknown god.' Whom therefore 



*A hill where the Athenians held an open-air political and religious 
court. 



388 The Narrative Bible 

ye worship in ignorance, him declare I unto you. The 
God that made the world dwelleth not in temples made 
with hands, though He is not far from each one of us; 
for in Him we live, and move, and have our being. 
We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto 
gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. 
The times of ignorance God overlooked; but now He 
commandeth men that they should all repent, inasmuch 
as He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge 
the world by the man whom He hath ordained ; whereof 
He hath given assurance, in that He hath raised him 
from the dead." 

When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, 
some mocked, but others said : " We will hear thee con- 
cerning this again." 

So Paul went out from among them, but certain 
men clave unto him, and believed. After these things 
he departed to Corinth, where he found a certain Jew 
named Aquila, with his wife Priscilla. Because he was 
of the same trade, he abode with them, and they 
wrought; for by their occupation they were tentmakers; 
and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath. 
When he departed thence, he continued from city to 
city until he came to Ephesus ; and God wrought special 
miracles by the hands of Paul, insomuch that unto the 
sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs 
or aprons, and the diseases departed from them. Not 
a few that practiced magical arts brought their books, 



The Acts of the Apostles 389 

and burned them. So mightily grew the word of the 
Lord and prevailed. 

A man named Demetrius, who made silver shrines 
of Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen ; 
whom he gathered together, and said: "Sirs, ye know 
that by this business we have our wealth; and ye see 
and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost through- 
out all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned 
away much people, saying that they be no gods, which 
are made with hands. Not only is there danger that 
our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple 
of the great goddess Diana should be despised and 
her magnificence destroyed. ,, 

When they heard this, they were filled with wrath, 
and cried out, saying: " Great is Diana of theEphesians." 

The city was filled with the confusion; and they 
rushed with one accord into the theatre. Some cried 
one thing, and some another; and the more part knew 
not wherefore they were come together. They brought 
Alexander out of the multitude, and he saith: "Ye 
men of Ephesus, ye ought to do nothing rash. If 
Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have 
a matter against any man, the courts are open. We 
are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot, 
there being no cause for it." 

When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. 
After the uproar was ceased, Paul departed, and came 
into Greece. He spent three months there, and travelled 



390 The Narrative Bible 

through Macedonia, and he and his company sailed 
away from Philippi, and came unto Troas, where they 
abode seven days. On the first day of the week, when 
they were gathered together to break bread, Paul dis- 
coursed with them of Troas, intending to depart on 
the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight. 
There were many lights in the upper chamber, where 
they were, and there sat in a window a certain young 
man. Being sunk down with sleep he fell from the 
third story; and was taken up dead. Paul went down, 
and embracing him said : " Trouble not yourselves ; for 
his life is in him." 

When he was come up again, and had broken the bread, 
and eaten, and had talked a long while, even till break 
of day, he departed ; and they brought the young man 
alive, and were not a little comforted. 

Paul came to Jerusalem, and the brethren received 
him gladly; but the Jews from Asia saw him in the 
temple, and stirred up the multitude, and laid hands 
on him, crying out: "Men of Israel, help. This is the 
man that teacheth all men everywhere against the 
people, and the law, and this place. Moreover he 
brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted 
this holy place.*' For they had seen with him in the 
city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed 
that Paul had brought into the temple. 

The people ran together, and they laid hold on Paul, 
and dragged him out of the temple. As they were 



The Acts of the Apostles 391 

seeking to kill him, tidings came to the chief captain 
of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar 
Forthwith he took soldiers, and ran down on them. 
They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, 
left off beating Paul. Then the chief captain came 
near, and commanded him to be bound with two 
chains, and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 
Some shouted one thing, some another; and when he 
could not know the certainty for the tumult, he com- 
manded him to be carried into the castle. The multi- 
tude followed after, crying out: "Away with him. 
Away with such a fellow from the earth." 

As they cried out, and threw off their garments, and 
cast dust into the air, the chief captain brought him 
into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by 
scourging, that he might know for what cause they 
so shouted against him. When they had tied him with 
the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by: 
"Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman, and 
uncondemned ? " 

The centurion went to the chief captain, saying: 
" Take heed what thou doest; for this man is a Roman." 

The chief captain came, and said: "Tell me, art 
thou a Roman ? " 

He said: "Yea." 

The chief captain said : " With a great sum obtained 
I this citizenship." 

Paul said : " But I am a Roman born." 



392 The Narrative Bible 

They then who were about to examine him departed ; 
and the chief captain also was afraid, when he knew 
that Paul was a Roman, and because he had bound 
him. On the morrow he commanded the chief priests 
and the council to come together, and brought Paul, 
and set him before them. When Paul perceived that 
the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, 
he cried out : " Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of 
Pharisees. Touching the resurrection of the dead I am 
called in question." 

When he had so said, there arose a dissension between 
the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was 
divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resur- 
rection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees 
confess both. There arose a great clamor; and some 
of the Pharisees stood up, saying: "We find no evil in 
this man." 

The chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn 
in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to bring 
him into the castle. The night following the Lord 
stood by him, and said : " Be of good cheer. As thou 
hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must 
thou bear witness also at Rome." 

When it was day, the Jews banded together, and 
bound themselves under a curse, saying that they 
would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 
They were more than forty who made this conspiracy; 
and they came to the chief priests and elders, and said : 



The Acts of the Apostles 393 

"Signify to the chief captain that he bring Paul unto 
you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly; 
and we are ready to kill him." 

Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and 
he entered into the castle, and told Paul, who called 
one of the centurions, and said : " Bring this young man 
unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him." 

So the centurion took him to the chief captain, who 
went aside with him privately and asked: "What is 
that thou hast to tell me ? " 

He said : " The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring 
Paul unto the council. Do not thou yield unto them; 
for there lie in wait more than forty men, who have 
bound themselves with an oath, neither to eat nor to 
drink till they have slain him." 

The chief captain let the young man go; and he 
called two centurions, and said: "Make ready two 
hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen 
threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the 
third hour of the night. Provide them beasts, that they 
may set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the 
governor." 

They came to Csesarea, and after five days the high 
priest came with certain elders, and with an orator, 
who said : " We have found this man a pestilent fellow, 
and a mover of insurrections, and a ringleader of the 
sect of the Nazarenes ; who moreover assayed to profane 
the temple." 



394 The Narrative Bible 

When the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, 
Paul answered: "Neither in the temple did they find 
me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor 
in the synagogues, nor in the city. But this I confess, 
that after the Way which they call heresy, so worship I 
the God of our fathers." 

Felix deferred Paul's accusers, saying: "When the 
chief captain shall come, I will determine your matter." 

After certain days Felix sent for Paul, and heard 
him concerning the faith in Christ. As he reasoned 
of righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment to 
come, Felix was terrified, and said : " Go thy way for 
this time; and when I have a more convenient season, 
I will call thee unto me." 

He hoped that money would be given him of Paul, 
that he might loose him ; wherefore he sent for him the 
oftener and communed with him. After two years 
were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Festus; and 
desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in 
bonds. 

Festus went to Jerusalem, and the chief priests and 
the principal men of the Jews informed him against 
Paul; and they besought him, that he would send for 
him to Jerusalem, laying a plot to kill him on the way. 
But Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge 
at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart 
thither. "Let them therefore," saith he, "who are of 



The Acts of the Apostles 395 

power among you, go with me, and if there is any- 
thing amiss in the man, let them accuse him." 

He went unto Caesarea, and sat on the judgment- 
seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. When Paul 
was come, the Jews from Jerusalem stood round about, 
bringing many and grievous charges; while Paul said 
in his defence: "Neither against the law of the Jews, 
nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I 
sinned at all." 

Festus said: "Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there 
be judged of these things ? " 

Paul said : " I stand at Caesar's judgment-seat, where 
I ought to be judged. If I am a wrong-doer, and have 
committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to 
die; but if none of those things is true, whereof these 
accuse me, no man can deliver me unto them. I appeal 
unto Caesar." 

Then Festus answered: "Thou hast appealed unto 
Caesar; unto Caesar shalt thou go." 

When certain days were passed, Agrippa the king 
arrived at Caesarea, and Festus laid Paul's case before 
the king, saying: "There is a man left a prisoner by 
Felix; concerning whom, his accusers, the chief priests 
and the elders of the Jews, brought no charge of such 
evil things as I supposed; but had certain questions 
against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, 
who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." 

Agrippa said: "I also could wish to hear the man." 



396 The Narrative Bible 

So on the morrow, when they were entered into the 
place of hearing, with the chief captains, and the prin- 
cipal men of the city, Paul was brought in. Festus 
said: "Ye see this man about whom the Jews made 
suit to me. As he appealed to the emperor I brought 
him before you that, after examination, I may have 
somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable, 
to send a prisoner, and not to signify the charges 
against him." 

Agrippa said unto Paul: "Thou art permitted to 
speak for thyself." 

Then Paul answered : " I think myself happy, King 
Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee, 
because thou art expert in all customs and questions 
which are among the Jews. My manner of life from 
my youth up know all the Jews. After the straitest 
sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Now I stand 
here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of 
God unto our fathers. I verily thought, that I ought 
to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of 
Nazareth; and I shut up many of the saints in prisons, 
and I persecuted them even unto foreign cities. As I 
journeyed to Damascus, at midday, O king, I saw a 
light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, 
shining round about me and them that journeyed with 
me. When we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice, 
saying: 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' I 
said : ' Who art thou, Lord ? ' The voice said : ' I am 



The Acts of the Apostles 397 

Jesus whom thou persecutest. But arise; for I have 
appeared unto thee to appoint thee a minister and a 
witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, 
and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee; 
delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, 
unto whom I send thee, that they may turn from dark- 
ness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.' 
Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto 
the heavenly vision ; but declared to them of Damascus 
first, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also 
to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to 
God, and do works worthy of repentance." 

As he thus spake for himself, Festus said: "Paul, 
much learning doth make thee mad." 

Paul saith: "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; 
but speak words of truth and soberness. The king 
knoweth of these things; for this was not done in a 
corner." 

Agrippa said unto Paul: "Almost thou persuadest 
me to be a Christian." 

Paul said: "I would to God, that not only thou, but 
all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, 
except these bonds." 

The king rose up, and the governor, and they that 
sat with them. When they had withdrawn, they spake 
one to another, saying: "This man doeth nothing 
worthy of death or of bonds." 



398 The Narrative Bible 

Agrippa said unto Festus: "This man might have 
been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar." 

When it was determined that Paul should sail for 
Italy, they delivered him and certain other prisoners 
to a centurion named Julius; who embarked in a ship, 
and came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion 
found a ship sailing for Italy, and he put the prisoners 
therein. They sailed under the lee of Crete, and came 
unto a place called Fair Havens. When the south wind 
blew softly, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, 
close in shore. But after no long time there arose 
a tempestuous wind; and the ship was caught, and 
could not face the wind, and they were driven. As 
they labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day 
they began to throw the freight overboard; and the 
third day they cast out the tackling of the ship. Neither 
sun nor stars shone on them for many days, and all 
hope that they should be saved was taken away. Then 
Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said: "Sirs, 
I exhort you to be of good cheer. There shall be no loss 
of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood 
by me this night an angel of the God whom I serve, 
saying: 'Fear not, Paul. Thou must be brought before 
Caesar; and lo, God hath granted thee all them that 
sail with thee.' Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer." 

When the fourteenth night was come, about midnight 
the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to 
some country. They sounded, and found twenty 




PauVs shipwreck 



The Acts of the Apostles 399 

fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, 
and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing lest they should 
be cast ashore on rocks, they let go four anchors from 
the stern, and prayed for the day. As the sailors 
were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered 
the boat into the sea, as though they would lay out 
anchors from the foreship, Paul said to the centurion 
and to the soldiers: "Except these abide in the ship, 
ye cannot be saved." 

Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, 
and let her fall off. While the day was coming on, 
Paul besought them all to take some food, saying: 
"This day is the fourteenth day that ye continue fast- 
ing. Wherefore I beseech you to take some food." 

When he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave 
thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, 
and began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, 
and took food. When it was day, they knew not the 
land; but they perceived a bay with a beach, and they 
took counsel whether they could drive the ship on it. 
Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at 
the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and 
hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the 
beach. But lighting on a place where two seas met, they 
ran the vessel aground. The forepart struck and re- 
mained immovable, but the stern began to break up 
by the violence of the waves. The soldiers' counsel was 
to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim, 



400 The Narrative Bible 

and escape. But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, 
kept them from their purpose, and commanded that 
they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, 
and get first to the land; and the rest, some on planks, 
and some on other things from the ship. So it came to 
pass, that they all escaped safe. 

When they were escaped, they knew that the island 
was called Melita; and the barbarians showed them 
no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and re- 
ceived them all, because of the rain and the cold. 
Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the 
fire, and a viper came out by reason of the heat; and 
fastened on his hand. When the barbarians saw the 
beast hanging from his hand, they said one to another: 
"No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he 
hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered 
to live." 

Howbeit he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt 
no harm. They expected that he would have swollen, 
or fallen down dead suddenly; but when they had 
looked a great while, and beheld nothing amiss come 
to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was 
a god. 

In the neighborhood of that place were lands belong- 
ing to the chief man of the island, named Publius; 
who received them, and lodged them three days 
courteously. The father of Publius lay sick of fever 
and dysentery; unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, 



The Acts of the Apostles 401 

and laid his hands on him and healed him. When this 
was done, others also who had diseases in the island came, 
and were cured. These honored them with many 
honors; and when they sailed, put on board such 
things as they needed. 

When they came to Rome, Paul was suffered to 
dwell by himself with the soldier that guarded him; 
and after three days he called together those that were 
chief of the Jews, and said unto them: "I, brethren, 
though I had done nothing against the people, or the 
customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner 
from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans; who, 
when they had examined me, desired to set me at 
liberty, because there was no cause of death in me. 
But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained 
to appeal unto Caesar. Because of the hope of Israel 
I am bound with this chain." 

They said unto him: "We neither received letters 
concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither 
and speak harm of thee. We desire to hear what thou 
thinkest; for concerning this sect, we know that every- 
where it is spoken against." 

When they had appointed a day, there came many 
to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded the 
matter, persuading them concerning Jesus from morning 
till evening. Some believed the things which were 
spoken, and some disbelieved; and when they agreed 
not among themselves, they departed. 



402 



The Narrative Bible 



Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, 
and received all that came in unto him, preaching the 
kingdom of God, and teaching those things which 
concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness. 



Names of Persons and Places 

The pronunciation generally adopted in the public 
reading of the Bible is here indicated. The following 
words furnish a key to the markings: tame, arm, fare; 
hat ; aa = a of am ; a'a = a of care ; mediaeval, aisle, hail, 
ao = o of alone; maul, cell, echo, mete, m£t, heed, 
neuter, lewd, gem, fine, Mm, peculiar, old, nor, 6n, 
son, has, adhesion, thyme, acfton, tune, rude, turn, 
us, lyre, hymn. 

Aa'r5n A'gag 

Ab'd6n Ag'a gite 

A bSd'-n^ go A grip'pil 

A'bel A'hab 

A bi'a thar A has u e'rus 

Ab'¥ gail A'h&z 

A bi'jah A h& zi'ah 

A bi jam A hi'j&h 

A brm'^ lech A hi ma az 

A bin'a dab A Mm 6 lech 

A bfri'S am A hi'6 

A bi'ram A hfth'S phel 

Ab'* shai Aj'a 16n 

Ab'nSr Al ex an'dSr 

A'bra ham Al phae'us 

Ab'sa lorn Am'a l£k 

A'cMsh Am & zi ah 

Ad'am Am'mon 

Ad o ni'jah Am'n6n 

Ad'6 nl-ze'dec A'mSn 

A dul'lam Am'6 rite 



Names of Persons and Places 

A'nak Bar ab'bas 

An a ni'as Bar'ak 

An'drew Bar'na bas 

An'nas Bar th.6V6 mew 

An'tf 6ch Ba'shan 

A qmTa Bath-shS'ba 

Ar'a r&t Be eTzS bub 

Ar chite Beer-she'ba 

Ar & 5p'a gus Be naYah 

Ar X ma thae'a Bm-ha/dad 

Ar'i 6ch Be'or 

Ar ta xerx'es Bgl sh£z'zar 

4'^ w Bel te shaz'zar 

4 s ' g n * th Ben'ja mm 

Ash'dSd td «+!,/» - 

Ash'er Settany 

A'sia Beth'el 

Ash'ke' Ion Bgth **'** 

As syr'* a BSth'-lS hem 

Ath a li'ah Bgth sa'* da 

Ath'ens BSth-she'mesh 

Au gtis'tus Be thti'el 

Az a ri'ah Bil'd&d 

A zo'tus Bo az 

Ba/al Cse'sar 

Ba/al-ha/zor Cses a re'a 

Ba ash'a CaYa phas 

Ba'bel Cain 

Bab'y Ion Ca'lBb 

Ba hu'rrni Ca na 

Balaam Ca/na'an 

Ba'lak Ca pSr'na urn 



Names of Persons and Places 

Car'mel Eg'lon 

Chal de'ans E'gypt 

Che'rtth E'hud 

ChT'tf 6n Ek'ron 

Cho ra'zm W mh 

Christ F ~ e *' zhv 

E'li 

Ci lfc'I a £ * 

rx , y ., E h'ab 

C * r * nth E li'a krm 

Cor n« g rjMl 

Cr§te E lim'e lSch 

Cu'shite g H'phaz 

Cu'thah E fts'a beth 

Cy'prus E ll'sha 

Cy'rus El ka'nah 

Da/gon E'ISn 

Da mas'cus Em ma/us 

Dan En ge'di 

Dan'iel Eph'S sus 

Da rl'us E'phra rm 

Da/than Ep i cu re'an 

Da'vta E'sau 

DSb'6 rah Esh/cSl 

DS li'lah Es'thSr 

De me'tri us E'tam 

DeVbe E thi 6'pi a 

Di an'a Eu phra'tes 

Dtd'y mus Eve 

Dor'cas E'z&l 

Do'than Fe'tfx 

Du'ra FSs'tus 

E den Ga'brt SI 



Names of Persons and Places 



Gad 


He'ber 


Ga'di 


He'brew 


Gal'* lee 


He'bron 


Ga ma'tf SI 

Gath 

Ga/za 

GS ha/zi 

Gen'tile 

Ge'shtir 

GSth sem'a ne 


He'gai 
Her'od 
He" ro'di as 
HSsh'bSn 
HSz e ki'ah 
Hi'ram 


Gib'bS th6n 


mi'isi 


Gib'S ah 


Hft'tite 


GiVS on 


Hi'vite 


GM'S on 


Hor 


Gi'hon 


Hor'Sb 


GH bo'a 


Ho she'a 


Gn'S ad 


Hiir 


Gn'gal 


Hu'shai 


Gft'tite 


Ib'zan 


Gol'go tha 


I co'nt um 


Go H'ath 


In'd* a 


Go mor'rah 


I'saac 


Go'shSn 


I sai'ah 


Greece 


Ish-bosh'Sth 


Ha/gar 


Ish'ma SI 


Ham 


Is'ra SI 


Ha/man 


Is'sa char 


Ha/math 


It'a ly 


Han a ni'ah 


It'ta. 1 


Han'nah 


Jab'bok 


Har'an 


Ja'bSsh 


Ha'tach 


Ja'bm 



Names of Persons and Places 

Ja'cob J&hn 

Ja'Sl J6n'a dab 

Ja'tr Jo'nah 

Ja I'rus J6n'a than 

James J6p'pa 

Ja/phSth Jo'ram 

Ja/z&r Jor dan' 

Jgb'u site ■ Jo's&ph 

Jg ho'a haz Jttsh'u a 

J£ ho'ash Jo si'ah 

J£ hoYa chm Jo'tham 

JS hoi'a da Ju dai'a 

JS hoi'a kfcn Ju dah^ 

J& ho'ram Jti'das Is car't ot 

JS hSsh'a phat Jul'ius 

Je h6sh'S ba Ju'pt tSr 

Je'hu Ka'dSsh 

Jeph'thah Ke'dSsh 

J&r e mi'ah Ke'nTte 

JeV* cho Kfr'jath-je'a rim 

Jer 6 bo'am K*sh 

Je" ru'sa lem Ko'rah 

JeYsS La ban 

Je'sus Laz'a rus 

JSth'ro Le ah 

Jew's LeVa non 

JeVS bSl Le'vl 

J&z'reel Lo'de" bar 

Jo'ab LSt 

Jo'ash Lyc'f a 

Job Lyd'da 

Jo'Sl Lyd't a 



Names of Persons and Places 

Lys'tra Mo ri'ah 

Mac e do'nt a Mo'se's 

Ma/chir My'ra 

Mag'da lene Na/a man 

Ma ha na'mi Na'bal 

Mah'lon Na'bSth 

Mak ke'dah Na/dab 

Mam're Na hash 

Ma nas'seh Na'hor 

Ma no'ah Na/fti 

Mar'ah Na/6 mi 

Mark Naph'ta II 

Mar'tha, Na'than 

Mar'y Na than'a SI 

Matth'ew Naz'a rene 

Matth I'as Naz'a rite 

Mede Naz'a reth 

Mel'chT shu'a Ne'bo 

Mel'¥ ta N&b u chad nez'zar 

Me mu'can Nfc 6 de'mus 

MS phib'S sheth Nile 

Mer'cu ry Nim'shi 

Me'shack NM vSh 

Me thu'se' lah No'ah 

Mi'chal NSb 

Mid'i an N6d 

MYg'dol Niin 

Mir'¥ am ba dl'ah 

MT'sha, el O'bed-e'dom 

Miz'peh 6g 

Mo'ab OH vSt 

Mor de ca/T Om'ri 



Names of Persons and Places 

On Re beVah 

Oph'r£h Re hS bo'am 

Or'pah Reph'i dim 

Oth'n? el Reu'ben 

Par'an Rome 

Patil Ruth 

Pe'kah Sa be'ans 

PSk a hi'ah Sad'du cee 

Pen'te cSst S& mar '* a 

Per'ga Sam'son 

-nv ,v -. Sam'u £1 
Per'iz zite 

Sapph i'ra 

irer sia riA »wi 

Sarah 

Prtgr _ Sa/tan 

Phar'aoh Sa?ul 

Phay* se'e Se'ir 

Phn'fp Sen nach'er lb 

Phi tip'pi Seth 

Phfl fs'tine Sha'drach 

PMn'S has Shal'lum 

Phu'r&h Sha'phat 

Pfs'g&h She'ba 

PSn'tms Pi'late She'chem 

P6t^ phar Shem 

PS tf'-pher ah Shi'loh 

Pris cft'ia Shi'nar 

Pub'ti us Shi'shak 

Rab'b&h Shiir 

Ra'chSl Shu'shan 

Ra'h^b Si'don 

Ra/mah Sl'hon 

Ra'mfith-gn'S ad Si'lSs 



Names of Persons and Places 



SI lo'am 


Tro'as 


Sfrn'S on 


Troph'* mils 


Si'mpn 


Tyre 


Sin 


U ri'ah 


Si'nai 


Uz 


Sfs'e" ra 


Uz'zah 


S6r'Sk 


Vash'ti 


SSd'pm 


Zac chie'us 


S61 6 mon 


Zach a ri'ah 


Ste'phen 


Zach a ri'as 


Sto'fc 


Za'dok 


Suc'coth 


Zar'S phath 


Sy'char 


ZeVS dee 


Syr'* a 


ZS bu'hln 


Tab'* tha 


ZSd e ki'ah 


Ta/bor 


Ze-r&sh 


Ta/mar 


Zer u I'ah 


Tar'sMsh 


Zi'ba 


Thad daVus 


Zfrn'ri 


Theu'd&s 


Zfa 


ThSm'as 


Z*p'p6 rah 


TI be'rt iis 


ZT'on 


Tim'nath 


Zo'ar 


Tftn'd thy 


Zo'phar 


Tfr'zah 


Ziiph 


Tfsh'blte 





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